Here are 11 ideas to help us develop a better approach to dying in the modern era. In medieval times before most people could read, they used to rely on 11 little illustrations called the ‘ars moriendi’, which means ‘The Art of Dying’, to help them. To be honest, they … Read more
Gina has had some confronting news. “I am a 62-year-old woman. I’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, (six months ago) and this will likely cause my death. At what point should I start seeing palliative care specialists? My cardiologist is coy about discussing this with me.” The diagnosis took … Read more
As Australia prepares for Dying to Know Day on 8 August 2024, JESSIE WILLIAMS, a major force behind the day, shares her thoughts about a new idea she and her team are working on to improve the connections between the dying in our community and those who’d like to actively … Read more
It’s important for children to be part of our conversations when someone is dying. One of our little family members is asking a lot about death. The same question is often repeated, she wants concrete answers and asks“Can I touch them?” This is nothing to be worried about. USA based … Read more
David, my partner of nearly 30 years always said that I was his ‘right arm’. When he died suddenly while we were overseas, just over four years ago, I felt as though all I had left was my right arm. My whole body, my whole sense of self, had completely turned on … Read more
I have just come through another Christmas without David and am being catapulted (it feels) into the forthcoming anniversary of his sudden death in Italy. Being nearly four years in one would hope that I would not only be used to the variety of things people can say (both helpful … Read more
Do you have a service that you want people to know about, that is still available during the Christmas Holiday period? Let us know at info@good-grief.com.au. Good Grief! has prepared this guide to help with some of the challenges you’ll face if a death occurs in the holidays. It’s not … Read more
It’s no surprise that there’s death during the holidays. People die all year round but when they die during the holidays what happens can be a surprise if you’re not prepared. Margaret Rice’s father died in Australia three days before Christmas and right before several public holidays. And Margaret reports … Read more
Dreams can be challenging for the grieving. There are plenty of theories about why we dream and one common explanation is that they help us process emotions. They can be particularly poignant when they involve someone we love who has died. In another of her reflections on her own grief, … Read more
The term, “The Great Unsettlement”, is not mine. I read it in a novel (I wish I could remember what it was!) that was written during the time this amazing planet of ours, and all of us on it, were turned upside down with the arrival of Coronavirus or Covid … Read more
‘A beautiful death’ is an expression few of us feel we have permission to use. Yet writer Richard Flanagan has done just that. Can we say this too? Richard is a Tasmanian author who’s won the Booker Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for fiction writing. His snippet about … Read more
In this occasional series, Australian cooking and media personality Lyndey Milan, shares her ‘Comfort Food for Grief – Pulled Pork’. It’s one of her wholesome ideas for special foods to comfort you or those you love, during difficult emotional times. “When you want to offer comfort to family or friends … Read more
Gay McKinley now definitely believe that there are stages of grief and she describes ‘the tsunami of grief’ stage as one of them. She has written about her deep insights into grief in her two previous articles, shared to our newsletter readers and then here on the Good Grief! website. … Read more
The experience of grief is universal and inevitable for each of us. It is felt physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and socially and it is a natural response to loss, bereavement, and trauma. Grief is part of being human “But we live in a grief-avoidant culture, that encourages us to move … Read more
When it hits the news that someone died unexpectedly in our country, on the other side of the world from their family and friends – or the other way around, someone from our country died far away amongst strangers, it always feels extra sad. GAY McKINLEY shares her story about … Read more
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