My Dear Fellow Grievers,

Life has a knack for throwing us curveballs when we least expect them. Here’s the thing – it's not about dodging those curveballs, it's about learning to swing with them.

You’ve heard the saying “The only thing constant in life is change”.

This week, I want to talk about the art of change.

I’ve lost both my parents in the last 2 years, there was the heartache of saying farewell to my Little Man Pepper, I can’t believe I just suffered a heart attack and last week was the 30th anniversary of my wife's passing.

It was Dr. Suess who said “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”

So how can I smile with the heartbreak of all the above?

I look at the other side of the coin.

My parents, both 89 when they passed, loved each other for an incredible 67 years. They left an amazing legacy of 5 children, 9 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren and 4 step great-grandchildren.

My Little Man Pepper, never thought he was a cat. He was the King of our Castle and he loved us for an endearing 19 ½ years.

I survived the heart attack with 5 stents to make my heart good as new, giving me yet another reminder to “love” every moment to the fullest!

It may have been 30 thirty years since my wife passed but I can tell you without a doubt “Love Never Dies”

I am so grateful for the unwavering love of my family.

I am so proud of my 3 kids and the grandchildren my wife never got to see. I know she would be so proud of the exceptional young men and women they have grown up to be!

I have remarried, finding love and joy for a second time.
As orphans now, we siblings have drawn closer, to our nieces and nephews too.

Dr. Suess is not wrong in saying “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened”. It’s just sometimes, sometimes you must mourn what you have lost and then yes, you must smile because you loved … and always remember “Love Never Dies”!

Life, with all its twists and turns, is a beautiful tapestry woven from the threads of resilience and hope.

It's about finding peace in the small miracles of everyday life – the sunrise painting the sky with hues of gold, the warmth of a comforting embrace, the simple pleasure of sharing a meal with loved ones.

So, as we navigate the ebb and flow of life's transitions, let's remember to not resist change, but to dance with it. For it is through change that we grow, that we evolve, and that we discover the extraordinary beauty hidden within life's most ordinary moments.

And if you want to delve deeper into navigating life's transitions and finding resilience amidst loss, check out my book "Rise and Shine: A Widower's Guide to Grief". It's a heartfelt journey through grief, resilience, and the enduring power of love.


To Your Peace,

Alan

Alan Farmer
Rise and Shine Grief Support

PS: Click here to grab your copy of "Rise and Shine: A Widower's Guide to Grief". 
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