WELCOME TO OUR BLOG
Welcome to the SevenPonds.com blog – a community-driven extension of SevenPonds.com! I hope you find comfort and community in the resources and stories featured here. I’m always happy to hear from readers and can be reached at suzette@sevenponds.com.
FEATURED
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Poetree: The Innovative Urn: Margaux Ruyant's urn honors the life of the deceased while cultivating the new life of a tree -
Putting It Back Together: Exploring Grief through a near-death experience: A 21-year-old woman's near-fatal accident alters her relationship with life. -
Buddhism and the Eastern Middle Ground: In Buddhist tradition, our death falls into a plane of existence that continues even after our final breath
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Categories
Tag Archives: Family
“Father” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
A poem about appreciation and rememberance for our fathers as we approach Father’s Day
As we approach Father’s Day this Sunday, it becomes particularly important to make time for our fathers by sending them a card or remembering to give them a call. For those of us who still have our fathers in our … Continue reading
Posted in The Next Chapter
Tagged Children and grief, Death of Father, Death of Father Poem, Death Poem, Death Quotes for Dad, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Family, Father's Day, honor father, Poems about dads, Poetry, Poetry and healing, Remembering a Father, sayings about dad, things for dad
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Norman Rockwell’s ‘Thanksgiving Picture’
The famous painting reminds us to cherish these moments with our loved ones
Norman Rockwell’s famous painting of a family at Thanksgiving dinner, Freedom from Want, is a simple and beautiful depiction of the bond of a family. The painting, which originally appeared as part of the Four Freedoms series in a 1943 … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Family, Holidays, Norman Rockwell, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving dinner
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‘Your Sister’s Sister’ explores personal ways of coping with loss
A film that explores grief, loss, death, and relationships
For a film that deals with the various angles of grief and loss, and delves into the depths of facing emotions and maintaining relationships, check out Your Sister’s Sister. Synopsis A year has passed since Jack’s brother’s untimely death sent … Continue reading
Posted in Something Special
Tagged Coping with Grief, Family, Grief, Healing, Loss, Lynn Shelton, Mark Duplass, Relationships, Rosemarie DeWitt, Your Sister's Sister
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‘In Abstentia’
A sister's reaction to the absence and presence of her brother in the belongings he left behind
After the sudden and tragic death of their son, Joshua’s family turned their grief into a myriad of creative endeavors. Josh’s father Jimmy created a film for those recently bereaved and a book of photographs, writings and poetry to express … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Death, Family, Grief, Grief Loss and Bereavement, In absentia, Loss
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Summers on the Farm
How I learned the meaning of strength from my grandfather
This is Suzette’s story, as told by Katie Ryan. Of all his closest grandkids, I think I understood him the most. My grandfather, Otto, and I were always very close. As a kid, I would spend every summer with him … Continue reading
A Journalist Becomes His Parents’ Death Panel
TIME Magazine adds their voice to the conversation about end-of-life care
In the current TIME Magazine cover story, writer Joe Klein divulges the story of his parents’ final days. In the video below, Klein talks about how their death taught him about the flaws in our healthcare system. The journalist’s story is … Continue reading
Have Fun with Life!
Finding freedom from loss and fear
This is the story of Francisco, “Frandu”, as told by Dana Sitar. I was out of my house, lost my family and my wife of twenty years. And the doctor had just informed me that I have about six years … Continue reading
A Coffin Design that Facilitates a Family’s Right to Say Goodbye
The Disaster Coffin replaces the body bag and allows families to perform funeral rites
Hungarian designer Adam Miklosi has created a brilliant design that finds the ultimate balance between aesthetics and function. His LR16 Disaster Coffin addresses the need for a mass-production casket that allows for the facilitation of dignified funeral rituals. Traditionally, in … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Art, Burial, Coffin, Death, Design, Family, Funeral, Funeral Rites, Natural burial
4 Comments
A Memorial You Can See From the Heavens
Rancher in Argentina Designs His Ranch to Fulfill his Late Wife's Dream
If you’re set to fly over General Levalle, Argentina any time soon, keep an eye out for this spectacular design surrounding this family’s ranch. The gigantic guitar made of trees was the dream of Graciela Yraizoz, the matron of the … Continue reading
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Argentina, Art, Death, Design, Family, Loss, Memorial
2 Comments
How to deal with loss of a loved one? Interview with Pediatric Oncology Social Workers
Helping Children and Families Cope with Serious Illness, Loss, and End-of-Life
When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, a myriad of medical, physical, financial, psychological, and social issues are suddenly thrust on a family. While doctors and nurses are busy at work with medical treatments, these medical social workers stand by to field the psycho-social concerns of patients and their families. Continue reading
Posted in Professional Advice
Tagged Cancer, Children, Family, Health, Health care, Loss, medicine, Pediatric, Psychology, Social Work
2 Comments
Book Review: “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius” by Dave Eggers
A Memoir of a Strange and Unique Life After the Loss of a Loved One
Through his popular memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, San Francisco author Dave Eggers chronicles his experience raising his younger brother Toph after the family loses each of their parents to cancer. The book is, indeed, at times heartbreaking … Continue reading
An Interview with Marilyn Reiss-Carradero, Pt. 1
An RN's perspective on end-of-life in the hospital: what changes need to be made?
Marilyn Reiss-Carradero, RN, BSN, CCRN, works at Santa Clara County Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA, and advocates for change in palliative care and end-of-life practice. Here, she reflects on the day-to-day experiences in the hospital, the lack of … Continue reading
Celebrating Lives Lost
How I dealt with the deaths of four family members within eight months
This is Lisa’s story as told by Katie…. In 2011, I lost my mother and my mother-in-law within ten days. Soon after that, I lost my brother-in-law’s mother and then my brother-in-law. These people were immensely important to me, and … Continue reading
God Just Took Care of Me
Growing Up After the Death of My Parents
This is the story of Nancy, as told by Dana Sitar. All I remember is what I’ve been told. Sometimes I think I have memories, but I’m pretty sure it’s just the stories people have shared with me over the … Continue reading
Posted in Opening our Hearts
Tagged Childhood, Death, Family, God, Grief, Loss, Loss of a Parent, Religion
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A Look at Japanese Funeral Practices
Cultural Traditions in a Country with Almost 100% Cremation Rate
Japan has the highest cremation rate in the world, over 99%, with some local governments even banning burials. Until after World War II, cremation was reserved for the rich, but once the cleanliness and efficiency of the practice were recognized, … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Burial, Cremation, Culture, Family, Funeral, Japan, Tradition
5 Comments
Find New Ways to Connect this Holiday Season
Savoring the Final Memory
Research over the years has shown a surprising spike in death rates, particularly by natural causes, near or just after the holidays, compared with the rest of the year. Reasons for this are yet unknown, though a number of theories have … Continue reading
Posted in Cultural Perspectives
Tagged Christmas, Death, Family, Holidays, Memories, New Year
2 Comments
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
The Healing Power of Photography
Learn more from our interview with NILMDTS co-founder Sandy Puc’.
Posted in Soulful Expressions
Tagged Art, Family, Healing, Infants, Loss, Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, photography
3 Comments
Holiday Sugar Cookies
Healing Through a Familiar Tradition
So many of us have memories of making holiday cookies with family throughout our lives. At any point, it is a soothing ritual, an activity that signifies togetherness and family bonding — and, of course, the comfort of that delicious … Continue reading
Book Review: “Imperfect Endings”, by Zoe Fitzgerald Carter
Zoe examines her life as she faces her mother's chosen death
Zoe Carter’s busy life on the West Coast with her husband and daughters and an unfinished mystery novel are put on hold when her glamorous and stubborn mother, Margaret, decides that it is time” to end things”. Margaret has been … Continue reading
Posted in Lending Insight
Tagged Assisted Suicide, Book Review, Death, Family, Memoir, Right to Die, Zoe Carter
2 Comments
Interview with Dr. Duncan, Part Two
Diving deeper into her work and the grief process
Read part one of my interview with Dr. Lael Conway Duncan, where we discuss her work at Good Medicine, integrative medicine, and the emerging practice of private medical advocacy and guidance. Katie Ryan: What are some specific situations you’ve had … Continue reading
