MSI Press Blog

Chapter 14 Grief Guide: Tips and Validations  “I’ve developed a new philosophy— I only dread one day at a time.”  —Charles M. Schulz  This chapter provides tips to make it through each day, and to validate your experiences. As stated frequently in this book, grief is a powerful experience. You can participate in its power by using your own power to experience it and direct its course or by surrendering to its power. Using your power and surrendering are both important. Swimmers instinctively learn when they can swim, when they can dive into a huge wave, and when they can ride the wave. It is trial and error, and eventually inner knowledge and wisdom are attained, with tumbles and falls, and mouthfuls of sand along the way. Simply scroll through the topics to give yourself a boost. Or stop at one or two of them to read completely. Grief is natural to us as human beings. It may not feel good, but it is good. It is a good process. It is a powerful process. Each loss is uniq

  Marti's book has brought in all 5-star ratings on Amazon, with rave reviews. Here, take a look: Top reviews from the United States Christopher Smith 5.0 out of 5 stars   Beautifully written balm for the bereaved Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021 Verified Purchase Lamentations of the Heart, Mingled with Peace and Joy, is aptly named and provides an enormous fount of solace and inspiration from cover to cover. Ms. Wells-Smith writes a faith-driven, emotionally and intellectually intelligent book of poetry and prose, each piece interwoven with a scriptural citation, that delves into her own experience with becoming a member of a club none of us would ever want to apply for, those of us who have lost a beloved child and are left with putting our lives back together as best we can, one foot after another, as well as prose about events and people that have led her to the place in life that she can find peace and joy. It is deeply personal and because of that spoke to my ow

  Author of Harnessing the Power of Grief , J ulie Potter is a certified social worker with experience in health care including home care, hospice, nursing home and hospital settings.  For 20 years, she coordinated a spousal bereavement program and a hospital based wellness program for people 60 and over. To read more posts about Julie and her book, click HERE .

  I wish I knew more about all the thinking and emotions that went into Joanna Romer's A Woman's Guide to Self-Nurturing . Unfortunately, after publishing ten books with us -- all of them respected and many of them beloved -- she passed away quite unexpectedly. One of her co-authors found her on the floor when she dropped by; Joanna had died of a heart attack, with no one else around to help. After producing two books on bereavement, which reflected both her personal experience and her research as a professor of journalism, Joanna asked if we would be interested in publishing a book that she felt compelled to write -- a book for women, focusing on their mental health and comfort, based on psychology and spirituality. It some ways, it seemed like she, not all that long ago divorced, was actually wanting to write a book for herself and then share it. Usually, we tell would-be authors to move their own needs aside and focus on the needs and interests of their readers. However, Joa

  Today's book excerpt comes from Joanna Romer's Widow: How to Survive (and Thrive!) in Your 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Years CHAPTER SIX Exercise Dare I bring up the obvious? There are few things as crucial to your state of mind as exercise. While it may have been easy to go the gym, run around the block, or swim at the neighborhood pool during your first year of widowhood, by Year Two it’s become a little harder. Why is that? Quite simply, when you’re in a state of extreme stress or depression, such as early widowhood, exercise acts as a tonic, giving an immediate boost. As your sense of wellbeing returns, the benefits of exercise aren’t so obvious. They are still there, however, and exercise is still vitally important. Even though we begin to feel a new sense of calm and acceptance waking up in the morning, that doesn’t mean we should loll around the house all day in our pajamas. Yes, certainly, once a week it’s great to take a day off, but during the week try to incorporate a little