What 30 Years Means to Me

30 years. For me, milestone anniversaries always add an additional layer of reflection and perspective. I think back to those significant, fun-filled days leading up to November 13, 1990. We didn’t have a care in the world. The future was ours with an unlimited amount of potential and happiness ahead. We often talked about how … Continue reading What 30 Years Means to Me

When Time Allows for Contentment

The older we get the more we reflect on what has been; as well as lamenting on what possibly should have been. Time is complex. Time gives reason to celebrate as well as reason to regret. Into my 50’s now, my perspective has come into focus over the past few years to a point where … Continue reading When Time Allows for Contentment

Revisiting the Upstairs Room

Continuing to inch closer to completing my book, this morning I was working on a particular point in time that was a crucial point in my journey. My visit to Dana's room after 24 years pulled so much together in giving me the grace for some much needed peace. The writing of this visit was … Continue reading Revisiting the Upstairs Room

My Blessings of Joy

It’s now day 50-something of staying home. I’ve often written about how not many years ago I began the ability of seeing and expressing gratitude within my life. Once this ability presented itself, I have been able to look at life completely differently. Prior to this I teetered between feeling sorry for myself and being … Continue reading My Blessings of Joy

At Home with Gratitude

As I work from home, what I am working hardest on is staying positive and grateful as the world navigates through this uncharted territory. We are seeing plenty of bad; just turn on the news, or scroll through your Facebook feed and you will see it. A lot of it. But I am choosing to … Continue reading At Home with Gratitude

Never Married but Still a Widower: Finding Gratitude Years after my Girlfriend’s Death.

In December "Elephant Journal" asked me to update "My Story" by diving deeper into some of the lessons that I have learned. They published my updated version (here); which I am also posting below. Thank you for reading 🙂 "Time heals all wounds" is a phrase that we all hear often. Living with a significant loss … Continue reading Never Married but Still a Widower: Finding Gratitude Years after my Girlfriend’s Death.

Resilience and Perspective Revisited

For well over a year I have been working on a book that chronicles my resilient journey through adversity. I am more than 75% done with the first draft. I'm working hard to find the proper time to meet my goal of having the first draft done and to my publisher early in the new … Continue reading Resilience and Perspective Revisited

Nick Cave’s New Album is a Jaw-dropping Listen for those of us who have a Close Relationship with Grief

It’s no secret that music means a lot to me. It’s therapeutic in a way that I can’t even begin to accurately describe. Sometimes it enables me to remember. Other times it allows me to forget. The deep, dark, introspective stuff has a way of speaking directly to me. Nick Cave has been a favorite … Continue reading Nick Cave’s New Album is a Jaw-dropping Listen for those of us who have a Close Relationship with Grief

Celebrating My Past

Grief is a lifelong journey. As much as others wished I could, I could not wave a wand and be over it. My life was turned upside down by the sudden death of my fiancée, Dana. The night prior to heading back to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for her final weeks before graduation, she … Continue reading Celebrating My Past

A Chance To Talk

A couple of months ago I received an Instagram message from a page called “Snapshots of Life After Loss”. It simply said, “Hi, I just read your story on your blog. Wow. Thank you for sharing your story”. From there we began a correspondence. Gracelyn explained that she ran a company called “The Luna Peak … Continue reading A Chance To Talk