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ACCESS CREMATION BLOG
Death Doulas: Helping to Manage the End of Life Experience
A way to help with the process and experience of death, loss and grieving can be through the support of a Death Doula. A doula is most commonly associated with assisting with the birth process, but death doulas specialize in providing support before, during and after...
Making a Difference Even After Death
Each life has meaning and value. We feel this loss deeply and often struggle to find our way through the overwhelming grief. Being able to channel our energy into a project that helps to honor and celebrate the life of our loved one can be part of the healing journey. There are many ways to commemorate our loved ones that are as unique as that person’s personality.
Artificial Intelligence – A Familiar Voice
Technology has many benefits and every day we are informed of new capabilities, features or options that are available to us that did not exist before. Recently, Amazon announced that they were working on having Alexa mimic any voice, even that of a deceased loved one. The idea of being able to hear our loved one’s voice offering needed information from Google or even reading a bedtime story to a child may be exciting to some and disturbing to others. Some may find comfort in being able to hear the voice of their loved ones again and others may feel that this is unhelpful and crosses the line. However, as we find ways to move forward with living in a world without the physical presence of our loved ones, technology may play a role in easing that transition.
A Long Distance Call
A few years ago, we heard a story on NPR about the Japanese Tsunami of 2011 and the poignant story of how some survivors were coping with the aftermath of loss and grief. The “Wind Telephone” was placed in the midst of a beautiful garden in Otsuchi, Japan where mourners could pick up the receiver and talk inside the privacy of a telephone booth. There, they were free to speak about anything they wanted to and let their feelings and emotions out. Those who had lost loved ones felt a need to pick up a telephone and talk with those they lost as a way to remain connected and ease their sorrow.
Grief in Six Words, Not More
There are so many feelings that can overwhelm us during life-shattering moments of loss. It seems like there are no words to describe such feelings, however, maybe you could try finding six words to express your grief. Writing is a creative outlet that can be used to help someone who is experiencing grief. There are many writing activities that could be helpful such as journal writing, but for those who just cannot bring themselves to write down a paragraph or two in their journal, you may want to try the writing activity, Grief in Six Words.
Our Stories Keep Loved One’s Memories Alive
Storytelling is embedded in our culture. It is the way we share our oral history, our lessons learned and words of encouragement. It is also a way to help us share our lost loved ones with family and friends. We keep the memory of our loved ones alive when we share stories of their lives and their accomplishments. George Eliot put it so well, “ Our dead are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them.” When we share stories about our loved ones, it is like we are speaking them into our lives and making them present in the moment.
NPR’s Grief for Beginners: 5 Things to Know About Processing Loss
Sometimes it helps to hear about other’s journey through the grief process. In this 20 minute NPR segment entitled “Grief for Beginners: 5 Things to Know About Processing Loss” by Stephanie O'Neill, she expands on the following: 1. Be with your grief; 2. Grief is a...
Coping with Grief by Making a Memory Box
In the face of grief, there is not much that can provide comfort. An idea that can be helpful for both children and adults is creating a memory box together. This can be therapeutic and can be a way to help process the emotions that such a loss can bring. You can...
Finding a Therapist
How do you find a therapist? You can start by asking your doctor. They often have resources that they can offer or refer you to the right person to speak with. You can also do a search online and this will likely provide an extensive list of therapists in your...
Podcasts That Help Us Not Feel So Alone
Have you ever felt like you are the only one that could possibly feel the emotions you feel, or the thoughts you think? Sometimes we forget that what we are surrounded by others that are feeling, and thinking pretty much the same things. It may be a little awkward...
You know the strength of a company by the company it keeps. We are proud to be members of:
CANA is an international organization that was founded in 1913 with the goal to promote safe and hygienic methods for individuals who choose cremation. Access Cremation is proud to be among its 1,500 members.
ICCFA proudly promotes consumer choices, pre-arrangement and open competition. Since being founded in 1887, it has created numerous guidelines advocating state legislation on a number of consumer related issues.