Episode 95 - My Grief Podversary and A Conversation with my Mom

Two years ago I sat down and pressed record for the first time. I had no idea if anyone would listen and where this journey would take me. Many people thought this topic was either too sensitive to discuss or was just too much of a downer.

I could not be more pleased to prove the naysayers wrong. I found that many others where going through the same pain that I was and it was then that I thought about giving others a voice on this podcast. It started in Episode 55 with Joshua Black from the Grief Dreams podcast and will become a regular feature on this show.

I wanted to start this 3rd year with a conversation with the person who sacrificed all to make sure that I would be OK after my dad's death... my mom.

We had a great conversation... here is part of that sit down.

If you are so inclined to share your story of loss, please email me at darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 94 - Gun Contol and Grief

I have often been asked how I feel about the subject of gun control. Many people thing that I am anti-gun because my father was murdered by someone with a shotgun.

This week I look at what or who really took the life of my father and how we might truly get away fro all the senseless killing that is running rampant in the States.

Look for a Youtube channel in the near future and email me (darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com) if you'd like to share your story of loss on the show.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 93 - Grief and My 2018 New Year's Resolution

Life has continued to punch me in the gut in the month of December. It didn't help that I sabotaged what was this week supposed to be the interview with my mon by not saving the edited version.

I have also had to continuously deal with personal issues in my life.

My resolution for 2018 is to simply go where life takes me - for better or worse

Just some general housekeeping:

Look for a Youtube channel in the near future and email me (darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com) if you'd like to share your story of loss on the show.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 92 - Grief and My Mental Headspace

I've been MIA (missing in action) for a few weeks because I needed to  take care of a few things back in St. Louis. I didn't have the time it would take to keep up my regular production schedule.

One thing that weighed heavily on my mind was the last conversation I had with my grandfather. He didn't want me to leave home and attend school half way across the country. I told him I'd only be gone for school, but he was still adamant that I should stay home.

I didn't have an opportunity to make things right between us as he died two weeks after I left home... I haven't spent more than a summer in St. Louis since I left for school. That was over 30 years ago.

While I have been tending to some of my mother's needs after a recent hospitalization this final conversation between my grandfather and me has been replying over and over in my mind.

On another note - I did sit down and record a conversation with my mother but did not have time to edit it for this week's show. Look for it next week.

If you have an opportunity, talk to a loved one and record it. You might be thankful you did a few years from now!

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 91 - Processing Lessons vs Getting Answers in Grief

No music this week as I'm on the road visiting family for the Thanksgiving holiday (which is why there was no episode last week).

I had the opportunity to pick up some new podcasting gear on Black Friday in the form of two new microphones that' i'm going to use to interview my mother this week and I'm testing them out today.

Anyway, that got me thinking about mu technology background and how I used to teach Microsoft certification classes. Some students only wanted to know what information was covered on the certification exam while other students what to actually learn the products being covered in class.

As I think about how I a reacted to the loss of my father and others in my life, I realize I should have been focused on the lessons grief teaches us and not the answers to the questions that I had/have surrounding loss.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 90 - Finding Forgiveness In Grief

After scrolling through the Facebook group and attending a podcasting conference. I was forced to reflect on the aspect of forgiving someone who has committed the most horrible act imaginable - killing my father.

I was filled with every emotion possible for the first few years after my father's death... hate, anger, revenge, etc. But at some point I realized that I had to do one thing to begin letting go of these feelings that I had. I had to forgive that person that killed my father.

How was this even possible when he never expressed remorse for what he had done.

Other related podcast I discovered in the past week:

Good Grief Podcast - http://www.goodgriefpodcast.com/episodes/

Is this Adulting? (More about mental health than grief, but very beneficial) - http://www.goodgriefpodcast.com/episodes/

This week's call to action: LAs you prepare for Thanksgiving here in the states, continue to think about how to incoporate your loved on into the holiday. Leave me a voicemail at http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 89 - The Mathematics of Grief

Math was always my favorite subject in school. My first memories of my father are of him teaching me to count money. I quickly learned my multiplication tables this way as well.

The subject has come easy for me ever since, I took some form of math every year in school - including college! Why it is not a grief trigger for me I don't know.

There are some things, however, that that remind me of my grief recovery process: repeating decimals and pi just to name a few.

I have to focus on a journey that seemingly will never end and try somehow to king implementing my coping skills at life's every turn.

This week's call to action: Let me know how you are going to incorporate your loved one's into your Thanksgiving celebration. Will you have a special meal, go to a certain place, etc/ :eave me a voice mail at http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 88 - The Miscommunication of Grief

This past week, one of the members in the Facebook group communicated that people still questions why she is still grieving a loss from 10 years ago.

I personally believe that certain societal queues tend to lead people to think that we are at certain points in our grief recovery process and we are OK in our grief.

This week's call to action: Let me know how you are going to incorporate your loved one's into your Thanksgiving celebration. Will you have a special meal, go to a certain place, etc/ :eave me a voice mail at http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 87 - Grief and the Bigger Picture

After being cut off by a car on my way home, I asked myself why didn't the driver notice that there was no one behind me. was he focused just on my car and didn't notice that in the "big picture" it would have been safer to wait for me to pass because there was no one behind me.

When it comes to grief the big picture involves opening our hearts, to other to let them into our world... the help facilitate the healing process.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 86- Are Grief and Using the Bathroom Really Related?

As I sat in my office last week trying to meed a deadline, I had to yes the bathroom. The only problem was I needed to complete a though before I went and I didn;d know if I could hold it long enough!

This got me to thinking... could using bathroom actually be related to my grief recovery process? Believe it or not, it is!

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 85 - Grief and the Things Our Loved Ones Say or Do

As I think about the heirlooms left to my by my loved ones, I started reflecting on the final time that I saw them or spent a considerable amount of time with them.

This week I ask two questions:

  1. Do some people know that their time on this earth is coming to an end? And...
  2. What would you differently if you knew that this would in fact be the last time you saw or spoke to your loved one?

I'm curious to know your answer... send me an email at darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

web - http:// www.dealingwithmygrief.com

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 84 - Heirlooms and Their Effect on Grief

I recently wore a watch that was left to me by my uncle. Wearing it made me feel closer to him... and it really made me happy. Here I reflect on things left to me be relatives.

Do you have any heirlooms left to you, and if so do you incorporate them in any way in your daily life?

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 83 - Grief and Running

I am often asked how long did it take me to "get over" my father's death.

The short answer is I haven't and I won't... at least not completely. In this episode I use my time in the army and the activity of running to explain why.

Now if I could just beat this cold!!

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 82 - Grief and the B-Sides

While editing some images last wekk, I was listeing the CD "The B-Sides" by Prince.

To clarify, before there was streaming music services and befor CDs music was sold on vinyl as a 2 sided disc. When you purchase a hit single, it was on the A-side of the record and the B-side was usually the instrumental of that song or some song that was deemed unworthy to be included on the album or some song not related to the project at all.

Some B-side songs became more famous than the song that was intended to be the hit.

I believe in grief as in music we have a side that we don't want people to focus on or that we don't want to talk about. These things are in fact the most important things that we may need to discuss.

Famous B-side songs:

Beth by KISS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHkojuUSDO8

We Will Rock You by Queen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=-tJYN-eG1zk

I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I

Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrK5u5W8afc

Green Onions by Booker T and the MG's - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9y-n9B_XUM

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 81 - Seniors, Baby Steps, and Grief

I had the opportunity to help move some furniture at an assisted living facility for senior citizens. There I met a gentleman who was trying to deal the challenge of just trying to walk a short distance.

What I leaned from him in the span of 10 minutes is something I should have learned a long time ago - sometimes small victories make all the difference in the world

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 80 - Turning 50 and Looking Back on Grief

As I turn 50 this week I have a lot to be thankful for...

  1. I'm half way to 100
  2. I decided that I need to live life despite what's happened to me
  3. I can be an inspiration to others

I think it's important to look back and figure out how to make adjustments to get through adversity. As I often do I take a look back at where I used to be emotionally and how I ended up here.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 79 - Setting Expectation Around Grief

This week I want to focus on a few pieces of feedback I received from listeners. One person wanted to know why I don't talk about spousal loss and another is dealing with people questioning being vocal about a loss that has happened a few years ago.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 78 - A Lake, Some Fish and Grief

I took a week away from the microphone to take a vacation and go fishing on Lake Ontario. While sitting on the lake I realized that being on the lake and trying to catch some salmon was a lot like life and my grief recovery process.

Please share this podcast with anyone who is suffering through some type of loss... I just want them to know they are not alone.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

 

22 lbs. king salmon caught on Lake Ontario outside of Oswego, NY

Episode 77 - Neo, The Matrix, and Grief

While looking at Youtube, I came across some clips of the Matrix. This got me thinking about how Neo's journey to find the truth about his existence mirrored somewhat my grief recovery process.

Please share this podcast with anyone who is suffering through some type of loss... I just want them to know they are not alone.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)

Episode 76 - Check, Mate, and Grief... The Rest of the Story

In Episode 15, Games and Grief, I talked about how I found chess and it was a vehicle for keeping me out of trouble and hor really helping me center myself. However, I did not go into any great detail about how it really impacted my grief recovery process.

This week I reflect on the focus, patience, an the ability to re-evaluate the issues affecting my life and more importantlly my grief recovery process has taught me.

Please share this podcast with anyone who is suffering through some type of loss... I just want them to know they are not alone.

Contact me using any of following:

email - darwyn@dealingwithmygrief.com

twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dealwithgrief

voice message - http://www.dealingwithmygrief.com/voicemail

Music provided by Oren Levine (oren@ohljazz.com)