I have been writing these post for over two years now and hope to continue until my mind no longer works. That may not be as far off as I would like and may be here already and I just don’t know it. I am seventy-eight and holding. I began writing these in an honest effort to help as many people as possible on their grief journey. This has not and never will be anything that will show any monetary return. Once in a while a reader might go to the resource area and buy a book, CD, or DVD. But for the most part it has been a labor of love done with the hope of being a distant companion to some folks on their grief journey.
I served as a minister/pastoral counselor for thirty years until trying to understand grief totally captured my heart and mind. For the last thirty years I have written books and made speeches in the grief and aging areas almost exclusively. Speaking to groups in person and serving as a companion to individuals has been the main source of my materials. Most of what I know about grief, I know from listening to the stories people have shared with me. I collect stories. I cherish stories. I learn from stories. When I am not booked to speak and do not have a full load of folks to companion, I miss the stories and find it very hard to stay fresh and inspired to think through new aspects of the journey and write new materials.
This makes it harder to write these blogs. I love doing it but it is hard to write to an audience I can’t see and do not hear from. I started posting my email address in order to make more personal contact with people and it has been a great help to me. I told one of my email partners that she was feeding me and didn’t know it. Almost every email we exchanged led to a new blog for the web site. I really enjoy responding to the real questions someone is struggling with a lot more than just writing general materials and hoping it hits someone.
I have also wanted some way to connect people to one another. Nothing helps like hearing from someone else who is in the same struggle and facing the same issues. I have always thought that most of the help people receive in grief must come from their friends. Unfortunately most of the hurt will also come from their friends. It is hard to find someone to talk to who simply understands and does not try to “fix” us. It is not easy to find people who are facing the same issues and pain. Many of the people I am emailing do not live in an area that offers grief support groups or counseling. I have wanted some way to meet these needs, and I think this might help.
INTRODUCING THE CHAT ROOM IDEA
We have made arrangements to add a chat room to our web site. A chat room is a space for folks to write their thoughts, questions, and responses with the hope that others who are facing similar issues will respond. The chat room will be open and available at any time, but you will be able to join me live at set times. I will be on line at a set time so anyone who wishes to chat with me in person can do so with the hope that others will join in as well. I will monitor the chat room as often as possible, of course, but then be available live at set times.
People tell me the weekends are the hardest times to face so I plan to be on the Care Community Chat most of the time on Saturday evenings from 7-9 Central Time. If this works well I hope to offer other times. Since I still travel a great deal, there may be weeks when I cannot be available at the regular time and to serve as a reminder, we will post the times I will be available each week.
HOW IT WORKS
It really is very simple. You must log in which we require for your protection. We can keep someone from using the site to sell products or to make inappropriate comments. We do not keep a list of members and do not use your email addresses in any way and there is no membership fee.
WHEN WILL IT BE ACTIVE?
Monday August 2, 2010 Care Community Chat will appear in the menu under Home in the bar on the left side of the site. You can begin writing that day. I will be live for the first time on Sat. August 7 at 7:00 Central.
PLEASE JOIN US
We are not a massive web site so we need every possible person to join in this project. I think it will be a great help to anyone who takes the time and makes the effort. I know it will be a chance for you to help others. Grief is a lonely journey. Let’s walk together.