SAD   Embracing the Darkness: Coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder as Nights Draw In   As autumn settles in and the days grow shorter, many of us feel the shift in energy that comes with the changing seasons. For some, the darker nights can bring more than just a cosy atmosphere; they may also trigger… [READ MORE]

The Value of Time “Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time” – Jim Rohn It’s the biggest mistake we make – we always think we have more time. It’s also one of the most common things I hear people say when they have experienced a… [READ MORE]

Sneaky Grief Sometimes grief just sneaks up on you. The intensity and rawness of my grief has changed a lot, I no longer feel intense emotional pain but my heart obviously holds a massive place for Ben and sometimes it aches for the children. We’ve spent this weekend making a start on a “treehouse” in… [READ MORE]

Mental Illness I remember when Ben, Evie and I were on our way home from visiting my dad in hospital when he was very poorly, not long before he passed away, and I experienced my first panic attack. I can honestly say that I thought I was having a heart attack. It was so bad… [READ MORE]

Warning – raising awareness in progress He had a good innings! She’s in a better place now. He isn’t suffering anymore. She lived a full life. Everything happens for a reason. At least you know you can conceive. At least you have other children. He wouldn’t have felt any pain. There are plenty more fish… [READ MORE]

HELP!!!! If you need anything just let me know. Give me a call. I’m here whenever you need. Don’t hesitate to ask! We’ve all said these things, and I’m pretty sure when you’ve said them you meant every word. It’s so hard to know how to help someone that’s grieving especially if you haven’t been… [READ MORE]

Eulogies – my thoughts: The Cambridge Dictionary defines a eulogy as: a speech, piece of writing, poem, etc. containing great praise, especially for someone who recently died or retired from work. I took great pride in writing Ben’s eulogy and loved that it gave people a better understanding of who he was. He was also… [READ MORE]

First the worst… “The first birthday/anniversary/Christmas is always the hardest, you just need to get the first year out of the way!” A phrase I heard so many times after Ben died. Yes they were hard but they weren’t by any means the hardest! Every time a first of something crept up on me I… [READ MORE]

Sunshine and Rainbows Have you ever heard the term “Don’t speak ill of the dead?” It’s a strange one isn’t it?! It’s our way of showing respect to someone that has died by not saying anything bad about them. We can almost idolise people that have passed on… “She was the best mum, she did… [READ MORE]

I’m sorry… Words you’ll often hear people say. Usually for something they haven’t done wrong like walking around a shop and someone backs into you, your response “I’m sorry!” Or, you lose your husband/mother/friend/pet/job (insert important person/animal/reason here), you talk to someone, you feel the tears coming. What do you do? Before you start crying… [READ MORE]