Friends

At the Heart of It Sometimes sharing about our grief with others can end up feeling like a competition—who has had the “worst” experience, or who will “win” by giving the “right” answers about how to grieve? This is common and can happen in a variety of ways, and it’s often unintentional. The way to…

Whose grief is worse: the doctor who loses her patient, or the family who loses their beloved dog?  Which situation is harder: a long, debilitating illness, or a sudden accident?  What community suffers more: the neighborhood devastated by a hurricane, or the town shocked by a mass shooting?  I hear comparisons like these all the…

“You were so lucky to have her for so long.”  Martha was 75 years old when her mother, Rose, died. Rose had just turned 101. Martha’s friends comforted her by saying how lucky Rose was to live so long, and how lucky Martha was to have that time with her. But Martha did not feel…

In the early days of my working life, one of my colleagues returned from bereavement leave. Her husband had just passed away, and it was her first day back at work. I froze when I saw her walking down the hallway. I wanted her to know I was there for her, but I was so…

The room at Baxter Brewing Company in Lewiston, Maine got quiet as Diane Sarna, President of Hearts of Hope Newtown, stood to read a letter from the Newtown Ambulance and Police Departments. “Our hearts were broken when we learned of the tragic events in your community,” Diane read to the dozens of Lewiston first responders…

Hearts of Hope Newtown was thrilled to usher in the holiday season by delivering hope to three Ability Beyond group homes in Connecticut. In October, we hosted a Paint with a Purpose event to support and celebrate the residents and staff at Ability Beyond, which offers services to thousands of individuals with disabilities. Over Thanksgiving…

On November 18, Hearts of Hope partnered with Cornerstone in Chandler, Arizona, as part of a day of service to help underserved folks in the community. Families and children came together to paint 100 hearts and write notes of gratitude and encouragement. The Cornerstone community was especially excited to provide an opportunity that young children…

Over the last few months, Hearts of Hope is proud to have hosted many events in support and honor of our veterans. This Veteran’s Day, we are thrilled to share more about these recent events with you. We are grateful for our veterans, their families, and the sacrifices they make for the good of all…

Last week, Hearts of Hope of Newtown, CT hosted a special Paint with a Purpose event to honor the memory of our friend, Russell Stiles. Russell was a member of the Ability Beyond community, an organization that offers services to more than 3,000 individuals with disabilities throughout Connecticut and New York. On October 25, we…

It’s difficult to be there for the people we love when they’re grieving. Nobody wants to say the wrong thing. When we don’t know what to do, many of us decide to do nothing at all. We think it’s better to avoid it entirely than to make a mistake. That is a major myth about…