Embrace your uniqueness and celebrate your differences, for they are sources of strength, resilience, and self-empowerment. Through self-acceptance and creative expression, transform challenges into opportunities for personal growth. By sharing our authentic selves, we foster genuine connections and build compassionate communities where individuality is cherished.
After experiencing profound loss, the author examines the enduring coexistence of joy and grief. They describe how moments of deep joy, even during immense sorrow, have become vital parts of their resilience. Through writing and photography, the author finds healing and meaning, embracing life’s complexity with hope, and discovering small joys in everyday moments.
The author reflects on their personal journey through grief after losing their sister and fiancé to cancer. Despite the profound sorrow, they highlight the transformative power of grief in fostering growth, resilience, and connection with others. Embracing vulnerability and community support, they emphasize the importance of self-compassion and honoring the memories of loved ones.
Words are powerful tools that can uplift or harm. They can heal, inspire, or inflict lasting emotional wounds. In today’s fast-paced digital world, mindful and compassionate communication is crucial. By choosing kindness and empathy in our words, we can build a supportive community and foster emotional well-being, both for ourselves and others.
Embracing the Journey of Joy and Hope Life can sometimes feel like an endless series of obstacles, can’t it? I’ve faced setbacks, endured losses, and navigated through daily stresses that have drained my joy and hope. During these challenging times, finding joy and rediscovering hope becomes not just important, but essential for our well-being. When we’re overwhelmed by life’s difficulties, it’s easy to feel as though the light has gone out and that we’re merely surviving day to day. But the truth is, even in the midst of our darkest times, we can find ways to reignite that spark of…
The Weight of Grief and Finding the Light Hello and welcome to Surviving Joy! If you’ve found your way here, it’s likely because you’re navigating the challenging terrain of grief and loss. This journey is profoundly personal and can often feel isolating and overwhelming. Grief is an all-encompassing experience that impacts every aspect of our lives. It can be heavy, consuming, and at times, it feels like there’s no end in sight. But amidst the darkness, there is also the potential for light. In this post, I’m going to explore the dual nature of grief—the immense weight it carries and…
It’s ok to not be ok. The world is constantly telling us that we need to be happy, that if we aren’t happy we should try harder to make ourselves happier. We must be happy all the time and if we aren’t, there is something wrong with us. But what if it’s ok to not be ok? What if sometimes we are sad, or angry, or afraid? What if we don’t always feel happy and excited about life? Well, here is a secret: It’s ok not to be ok! It is ok not to be ok. I have heard the…
Introduction Happy Birthday! I am forty years old. I’ve been through a lot and have come out the other side still standing. I’m stronger and wiser than ever before! The world is different now than it was the day I was born. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my lifetime, but I’m still here and that’s amazing. My life has been full of ups and downs, but through it all I’ve always kept going and never gave up. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them. I have had my heart broken, only to find it was just what I…
Introduction In our society, grief is often viewed as a negative experience. People often think of grieving as something we should get through quickly, without lingering on the emotions involved. What would our lives be like if we stopped thinking of grief as a negative experience and started seeing the positive ways in which it can change us? Grief is a natural and inevitable part of life. We all grieve in different ways at different times, but we all have our moments of grief and sadness. We often try to avoid dealing with grief because it hurts too much, but…
Introduction International Widows’ Day is June 23. It is a great way for people to learn about the challenges faced by widows and their families. It’s also a time to celebrate the strength, courage and resiliency of these wonderful women. Stereotypical image of a widow When you think of a widow, what comes to mind? Do you picture a woman in her seventies, eighties or nineties, who lives alone and has no family. She’s sad and lonely, but she can’t seem to find happiness anywhere. She’s also poor because her husband was the only one who worked and provided for…
Introduction Can you name the top 5 food allergies among adults in the US? You might have thought shellfish or peanuts, and you were right. But did you know that dairy is also in the top 5 food allergens? Not only is dairy in the top 5 allergens, it’s also second on that list. Dairy is a common food allergy that causes the immune system to react to dairy proteins. The reaction can be mild or severe, and it can affect anyone at any age. You may be surprised to learn that the symptoms of a dairy allergy are often…
It’s hard to be Joy when my name is Joy “I am Joy.” You’ve probably heard that phrase before. When I say, “I am Joy,” what I am saying is, “I am surviving joy when my name is Joy.” You’d think that would be a good thing, right? Sometimes it’s a little bit of a curse because my name is Joy. I am always expected to be happy; to emulate joy. No matter what happens in my life, no matter how bad things get—they do get bad sometimes—I’m supposed to be smiling, laughing, and cheerful. And if I’m not? People…
This is so informative and I welcome your extensive research. I understand the allergy much better and admire how thorough…
Embrace your uniqueness and celebrate your differences, for they are sources of strength, resilience, and self-empowerment. Through self-acceptance and creative expression, transform challenges into opportunities for personal growth. By sharing our authentic selves, we foster genuine connections and build compassionate communities where individuality is cherished.
After experiencing profound loss, the author examines the enduring coexistence of joy and grief. They describe how moments of deep joy, even during immense sorrow, have become vital parts of their resilience. Through writing and photography, the author finds healing and meaning, embracing life’s complexity with hope, and discovering small joys in everyday moments.
The author reflects on their personal journey through grief after losing their sister and fiancé to cancer. Despite the profound sorrow, they highlight the transformative power of grief in fostering growth, resilience, and connection with others. Embracing vulnerability and community support, they emphasize the importance of self-compassion and honoring the memories of loved ones.
Words are powerful tools that can uplift or harm. They can heal, inspire, or inflict lasting emotional wounds. In today’s fast-paced digital world, mindful and compassionate communication is crucial. By choosing kindness and empathy in our words, we can build a supportive community and foster emotional well-being, both for ourselves and others.
Embracing the Journey of Joy and Hope Life can sometimes feel like an endless series of obstacles, can’t it? I’ve faced setbacks, endured losses, and navigated through daily stresses that have drained my joy and hope. During these challenging times, finding joy and rediscovering hope becomes not just important, but essential for our well-being. When we’re overwhelmed by life’s difficulties, it’s easy to feel as though the light has gone out and that we’re merely surviving day to day. But the truth is, even in the midst of our darkest times, we can find ways to reignite that spark of…
The Weight of Grief and Finding the Light Hello and welcome to Surviving Joy! If you’ve found your way here, it’s likely because you’re navigating the challenging terrain of grief and loss. This journey is profoundly personal and can often feel isolating and overwhelming. Grief is an all-encompassing experience that impacts every aspect of our lives. It can be heavy, consuming, and at times, it feels like there’s no end in sight. But amidst the darkness, there is also the potential for light. In this post, I’m going to explore the dual nature of grief—the immense weight it carries and…
It’s ok to not be ok. The world is constantly telling us that we need to be happy, that if we aren’t happy we should try harder to make ourselves happier. We must be happy all the time and if we aren’t, there is something wrong with us. But what if it’s ok to not be ok? What if sometimes we are sad, or angry, or afraid? What if we don’t always feel happy and excited about life? Well, here is a secret: It’s ok not to be ok! It is ok not to be ok. I have heard the…
Introduction Happy Birthday! I am forty years old. I’ve been through a lot and have come out the other side still standing. I’m stronger and wiser than ever before! The world is different now than it was the day I was born. I’ve seen a lot of changes in my lifetime, but I’m still here and that’s amazing. My life has been full of ups and downs, but through it all I’ve always kept going and never gave up. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them. I have had my heart broken, only to find it was just what I…
Introduction In our society, grief is often viewed as a negative experience. People often think of grieving as something we should get through quickly, without lingering on the emotions involved. What would our lives be like if we stopped thinking of grief as a negative experience and started seeing the positive ways in which it can change us? Grief is a natural and inevitable part of life. We all grieve in different ways at different times, but we all have our moments of grief and sadness. We often try to avoid dealing with grief because it hurts too much, but…
Introduction International Widows’ Day is June 23. It is a great way for people to learn about the challenges faced by widows and their families. It’s also a time to celebrate the strength, courage and resiliency of these wonderful women. Stereotypical image of a widow When you think of a widow, what comes to mind? Do you picture a woman in her seventies, eighties or nineties, who lives alone and has no family. She’s sad and lonely, but she can’t seem to find happiness anywhere. She’s also poor because her husband was the only one who worked and provided for…
Introduction Can you name the top 5 food allergies among adults in the US? You might have thought shellfish or peanuts, and you were right. But did you know that dairy is also in the top 5 food allergens? Not only is dairy in the top 5 allergens, it’s also second on that list. Dairy is a common food allergy that causes the immune system to react to dairy proteins. The reaction can be mild or severe, and it can affect anyone at any age. You may be surprised to learn that the symptoms of a dairy allergy are often…
It’s hard to be Joy when my name is Joy “I am Joy.” You’ve probably heard that phrase before. When I say, “I am Joy,” what I am saying is, “I am surviving joy when my name is Joy.” You’d think that would be a good thing, right? Sometimes it’s a little bit of a curse because my name is Joy. I am always expected to be happy; to emulate joy. No matter what happens in my life, no matter how bad things get—they do get bad sometimes—I’m supposed to be smiling, laughing, and cheerful. And if I’m not? People…
This is so informative and I welcome your extensive research. I understand the allergy much better and admire how thorough…