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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“Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost:
A reflection on the transient nature of precious things -
Composting Bodies Is Now Legal in a Dozen States: Honoring Earth Day with a new kind of return to nature -
“Hand to Earth” by Andy Goldsworthy: Goldsworthy’s work using natural, found resources can serve as inspiration for incorporating art into loss
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Categories
Category Archives: Dying Well
Transforming the Legacy of Suicide – Part Two
From unraveling to weaving my own tapestry
It was my 18th birthday — five months to the day after my father’s suicide. Tears arrived without warning, without my permission. They burst through the protective armor that had been slowly eroding away through my process of denial and minimization. … Continue reading
Posted in Dying Well
Tagged anger, Emotional Healing, Grief, Grief and loss, Healing, Leaving a legacy, Legacy, Suicide
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When The Legacy is Suicide
The initial impact
When I was a child, my family was a strong, stoic clan. We valued fierce independence above all else. Asking for help or seeking recognition was not acceptable. Neither love nor grief was talked about or expressed. Any acknowledgment of … Continue reading
Posted in Dying Well
Tagged Death, Dying Well, expressing grief, Impact of suicide on a child, Legacy, Legacy of suicide, Loss, Suicide
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Caregiver Burnout: How to Recognize It and Ways to Cope
Exhaustion and fatigue can leave even the most loving caregivers wishing for relief
After struggling to give her mother a bath for 45 minutes, Rene’s patience was spent. Her mother’s Alzheimer’s caused her to resist the bath, and Rene had to deflect her flailing arms and verbal assaults. With no time to take … Continue reading
Posted in Dying Well
Tagged Anticipatory grief, Caregiver exhaustion, Caregiver Support, Caregiving, forgiveness, grief and guilt
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A Holiday Album: The Gift of a Life Review
A priceless way to honor your and your loved one's lives
Working with and being the student of those facing the end of life for many years, I have witnessed what really matters in living and in dying. Prompted to examine the life I was living and the legacy I would … Continue reading
The Death Rattle — Not Music to Your Ears?
The death rattle can be unnerving and scary for loved ones, but adding overriding noise can help
As a person gets closer to death, they can begin a type of noisy breathing that sounds like a wet snore. Called the “death rattle,” it can be difficult to listen to. Thankfully, it is not too common. Because it’s … Continue reading
Including Children in a Loved One’s Dying Experience
Allowing children to be part of a loved one's death gives them permission to express their sadness and grief
Join SevenPonds each month as Tani Bahti, RN, CT, CHPN, offers practical on-hand guidance to demystify the dying process. As an RN since 1976, Tani has been working to empower families and healthcare professionals to have the best end-of-life experience possible both through education and the … Continue reading
