Author Archives: Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“Ocean Breathes Salty” By Modest Mouse Offers Comfort in the Face of Death, Even If Only for Skeptics

The 2004 Modest Mouse hit, "Ocean Breathes Salty," explores death and life with a punchy, otherworldly sound
Posted on February 4, 2020 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

  Modest Mouse, an indie rock band that hails from the Northeast, built their 30-year career on a unique sound combining philosophical, often melancholy, lyricism with bendy guitar riffs, amazing bass lines, and the sometimes rasping, sometimes yelling, always compelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressive Music | 1 Comment

The Problems With Bereavement Leave in the United States

As the discussion of grief in the workplace enters the public conversation, some companies put more thought into their bereavement policies
Posted on January 24, 2020 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

If you’ve ever experience acute grief, then you know how difficult it can be to get through daily tasks. The days following the death of a loved one are often described as a “brain fog,” and are sometimes a flurry … Continue reading →

Posted in Something Special | 2 Comments

Creating Powerful Connections with Music and Storytelling

An interview with Jackie Vanderbeck, founder of Sing For Your Seniors
Posted on January 8, 2020 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

Jackie Vanderbeck has been building connections through music and storytelling since she was a child. The daughter of a dancer, her own creative expressions and musical performances were encouraged and nurtured during her youth in Sacramento, California. By the age … Continue reading →

Posted in Professional Advice | Leave a comment

“The thing to remember is that even if you can’t see the stars, they’re still there.”

- M.K. Czerwiec
Posted on December 26, 2019 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)
Posted in A Rite of Passage | Leave a comment

“The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma,” by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Dr. van der Kolk's book provides a lifetime’s worth of research into the physiological effects of trauma, providing new insight and a pathway to healing
Posted on December 20, 2019 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

  Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is one of the world’s leading experts on trauma and has spent three decades working with survivors. He has compiled his research on the physiological effects of trauma in his 2015 book, “The Body … Continue reading →

Posted in Lending Insight | Leave a comment

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” Captures Good Feelings For Everyone, Including the Bereaved

The Vince Guaraldi Trio's dynamic score conveys the complexities of emotions we experience during the holiday season
Posted on December 17, 2019 by Colleen Ferguson (Blog Writer, SevenPonds)

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” an animated, half-hour special starring the Peanuts gang, first aired on December 9th, 1965. It was an instant hit, and its viewing has become a solid holiday tradition for many. A quintessential feel-good film for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Expressive Music | Leave a comment