The Relief of Shared Grief

Copyright Jennifer Mullins Finding people walking through grief, who are willing to be honest about their pain, can be a source of comfort. I had this experience yesterday. Every day since my mom died, I woke up feeling sad. I had a meeting to go to and cried on my drive there. Once I arrived,…… Continue reading The Relief of Shared Grief

Grief’s Physical Effects

Seven negative Covid tests in the last few weeks prove that the symptoms I’m experiencing are from grief and not the virus. Tears are easy to recognize as an outward sign of mourning, and they have flowed often from the time mom went on hospice and have continued since her death two weeks ago. However,…… Continue reading Grief’s Physical Effects

The Grief Roller Coaster

Copyright Jennifer Mullins One of the hardest things about grief is its unpredictable nature.  Today I have felt every emotion: deep sadness, joy, numbness, and anger.  Although everyone likes to refer to Elizbeth Kubler Ross’s stages of grieving, they were meant for people dying, not for those left behind.  Grief is not linear, where you…… Continue reading The Grief Roller Coaster

Why ‘See You Next Christmas’ Sparks an Emotional Connection

See You Next Christmas at the Phoenix Film Festival This year, in general, has been more emotional, making the holiday season more challenging than usual. Watching many of the Christmas films that have been an annual tradition stirs up memories of good times but also brings sadness with them as well. The only two I’ve…… Continue reading Why ‘See You Next Christmas’ Sparks an Emotional Connection

Christmas Changes Through the Years

Copyright Jennifer Mullins Christmas is a continually revolving season of feelings, depending on where we are on our journey.         I remember the magical feeling as a child of being at the top of our stairs, waiting to open our presents. Since the tree was at the bottom of the stairs, my parents put up…… Continue reading Christmas Changes Through the Years

Cherishing Life’s Moments: Navigating Family and Fragility

Copyright Jennifer Mullins I wish I could remember who said this on a podcast related to death. The gist was that some people’s lives are short stories while others are epic novels. There is no guarantee of how long we live. However, we get to choose how we write and rewrite the story throughout our…… Continue reading Cherishing Life’s Moments: Navigating Family and Fragility

Copyright Jennifer Mullins Music plays an essential part in my life, connecting the happy and sad memories of my many experiences. A song can bring me back to a particular moment in time that can make me smile or cry. I often see the events associated with that music in my mind's eye. The Beatles'… Continue reading The Road We Shared

Unexpressed Love

Copyright Jennifer Mullins Denial is a hard habit to break. I’ve been struggling to get a good night’s sleep for the last two weeks. I wake up groggy, and my body hurts. Sometimes, naps take the edge off, while I’m tense other times. Writing this the day before Thanksgiving reminds me that my body keeps…… Continue reading Unexpressed Love

Garden Contemplation

Garden Paths Walking through a garden is a cleansing experience that allows me to leave the world behind. My pace and breathing slow as I become one with the natural world. I often go to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, enjoying its transformation throughout the year. Each time I walk a garden path,…… Continue reading Garden Contemplation

Being Grateful For Who You Are

Copyright Jennifer Mullins I was looking for a document the other day when I opened this letter of gratitude I wrote to myself in 2019 by mistake. I don’t remember why I wrote it, but I forgot about it. I’m glad I found it because it showed me where I was two years ago. It’s…… Continue reading Being Grateful For Who You Are