Daily Excerpt: Overcoming the Odds (C. Leaver) - Two Rules for Survival

  

The following excerpt comes from Overcoming the Odds, edited by Carl Leaver\.

GUIDELINES: TWO RULES FOR SURVIVAL

Gratitude

1. When you get up in the morning, express gratitude that

you had your husband as long as you did. You can do this

by writing down some thoughts in a journal, saying a

prayer, or just thinking grateful thoughts.

2. Talk about your loved one with friends, mentioning

particularly nice things your husband did for you and

others.

3. Make a list of everything that you have to be grateful for.

Post the list in a conspicuous place: near your computer,

on the refrigerator, or in a journal you use every day.

4. Take yourself out to lunch at a favorite place, and feel

grateful to be lunching there. Savor the food; admire the

ambiance.

5. Go to a movie that you know will touch you. Be grateful

that you can still be touched.

Do Something for Someone Else

1. Buy a little gift for one of your husband’s relatives. Sisters,

brothers, even cousins may be hurting as much as you are-

--making this effort will help you both.

2. Invite a friend or neighbor who was especially helpful to

you during your husband’s last year out to lunch or dinner,

or ask if there’s anything you can do for that person.

3. Select a charity and donate some of your husband’s best

clothes to that cause. I chose AmVets, since my husband

was a veteran. (No, you probably can’t do this right away,

and you may want to tackle it in several steps, but you’ll be

amazed at how comforting it is to imagine your husband’s

clothes put to a very special use.)

4. Volunteer your services at a local organization, even if

only for a short time. I offered to write press releases for

a local museum; organizations like Hospice always need

help. You don’t have to commit yourself for the rest of

your life; the rule of thumb for widowhood is, don’t make

any major decisions the first year. Just help out a little,

when you’re ready and for as long as you like.

5. Open yourself to unexpected opportunities to help

people, such as my encounter with Michelle. When you

are available to help others, opportunities will present

themselves.

(from Joanna Romer, Widow)

For more pots about Carl and his books, click HERE.

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