02/07/2012
Resource Review
By: Janet Blankenship, OFDA Resource Consultant
Resource Review
By: Janet Blankenship, OFDA Resource Consultant
- The Boob Girls III—The Burned Out Old Broads at Table 12—Sandhills and Shadows, Joy Johnson, co-founder of the Centering Corporation, $14.95
- You are not alone--Young adults coping with death, Jennifer Kaplan Schreiber, MSW, LICSW, FT, $9.95
- How a fortune cookie can heal grief--Twelve gifts of hope, A project in grief work, Nan Zastrow, $11.95
- Hitch your hope to a star--A collection of creative writing and journal entries about finding hope on the journey of grief, Nan Zastrow, $10.95
- Good Words-Memorializing through a eulogy,Beth L Hewett, Ph.D., $19.95
- Booklets adapted from this series, $5.95:
- Eulogies and religious settings
- Eulogies for children
- Eulogy writing & delivering
- Nontraditional eulogies
- Eulogies with children's voices
- Eulogies and difficult situations
- The Power of Grieving--A stronger you, MJ Bogginai-Atkins, M.Ed., LPC, $13.95
- The Spiritual Woman--Quotes to refresh and sustain your soul, Harriet Hodgson, $10.95
- The Boob Girls III—The Burned Out Old Broads at Table 12—Sandhills and Shadows, Joy Johnson, co-founder of the Centering Corporation, $14.95
- A novel, the third in the series, is a little bit bereavement support, historical fiction and fantasy following 3 widows from a retirement community on their adventures. A webpage and blog have been established for frequent contact, www.theboobgirls.com and www.welcometotheboobgirls.blogspot.com.
- You are not alone--Young adults coping with death, Jennifer Kaplan Schreiber, MSW, LICSW, FT, $9.95
- When Jennifer was 13, her older brother (17) drowned on a rafting trip with her father and middle brother (15). She writes this booklet for young adults 18-29, sharing her journey through grief, with prose, both by herself and others, along with definitions and coping techniques.
Nan Zastrow, author of the two books below, began her grief journey when their 21 year old son died as a result of suicide in 1993. Their group originally called Roots and Wings, published the Wings newsletter, purchased by funeral homes and individuals, was both educational and supportive. In 2003, they changed their group to Wings-A grief education ministry. Check out their webpage at www.wingsgrief.org or Wings on Facebook.
In my continuing review of resources available through the Centering Corporation, I found the book below along with a booklet series adapted from the main text.
- Good Words-Memorializing through a eulogy,Beth L Hewett, Ph.D., $19.95
- Beth Hewett has a Ph.D. in rhetoric and writing studies. She has trained with Dr. Alan Wolfelt in bereavement facilitation and is a commissioned National Catholic Ministry for the Bereaved Minister of Consolation Trainer. Beth regularly facilitates grief support groups, bereavement seminars and retreats, and writing workshops.
- This is a very comprehensive study of eulogies. The author's older brother, paternal grandmother, father and mother-in-law died in less than two years giving her experiences with both sudden and anticipated death. The book gives the opportunity for immediate use by going to the third chapter and using the Appendix Eulogy Writing Guide or a thorough study through examples of eulogies written and explanation of grief and mourning and how the eulogy may promote healing.
- This book would also be of benefit to those wishing to write an ethical will, as the incredible amount of material given would give an outline of those things you might want to share with others about your life.
- Booklets adapted from this series, $5.95:
- Eulogies and religious settings
- Eulogies for children
- Eulogy writing & delivering
- Nontraditional eulogies
- Eulogies with children's voices
- Eulogies and difficult situations
After the intensity, detail and responsibility of Good Words: Memorializing through a eulogy, I read The Power of Grieving--a stronger you. This book uses a relaxed conversational style to take you through the journey of grief, from being a caregiver to taking care of yourself after the death of your loved one.
- The Power of Grieving--A stronger you, MJ Bogginai-Atkins, M.Ed., LPC, $13.95
- When reviewing resources, I begin with a review of the cover pages, Table of Contents, flip through the book for a feel of it and check out the information in the back. Many times some of the most helpful information may be found in the back. This book was no exception. There are over 40 organizations including webpages that provide further information for you to check those of specific interest to you. Also there's a 2+ page Grieving Guide that could stand alone for those grieving along with a note to pass it along to your family and friends to help them understand those grieving and how they may help. The first part of the book is appropriate for all who are grieving or have had losses in the past, which covers most of us. The last part of the book is a collection of shared losses--divorce, infant loss, child loss, disability, illness, loss of country and many more, comforting and uplifting at the same time showing how feelings must be acknowledged to heal grief.
- The Spiritual Woman--Quotes to refresh and sustain your soul, Harriet Hodgson, $10.95
- After reading the Preface of the book I wondered how best to summarize a life wrought with loss. In 2007, their daughter died as a result of injuries received in a car crash, unable to save her life after 20 hours of surgery. The following weekend her father-in-law died from pneumonia. One expected, one against the laws of nature for a child to die before their parents. In the fall of the same year, as she was beginning to feel better, her former son-in-law died from the injuries he received in another car crash. His death made her twin grandchildren orphans and she and her husband became GRGs--grandparents raising grandchildren. She originally compiled this collection of quotes to inspire women of all ages and stages of life but found after reviewing the book as a whole that it also empowered women and provided a bridge to connect with other women to find the "resilience -- and the spirituality deep inside you" leading to a rich and fulfilling life. Check out her webpage, www.harriethodgson.com.
From her explanation of the cover photo choice, your inner spirit, eight meditation paths and mediation tips you are ready to begin the journey of the 365 quotations shared; some contributors you will recognize, others ones you might want to find out more about and you will also learn the author of some quotes familiar to you. Although her audience was initially aimed at women, men will also find the quotes useful. I especially liked the one from John Wayne, Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.
- This book would be an excellent gift for those loved ones who are seeking to find a new normal in their life after a loss and/or anyone else who strives to constantly look at things from a new perspective. I had many ah ha moments and even chuckles as I reviewed the quotes and wished I had each one on a card to think about for a day at a time.