Leaves of Change
Bereavement Newsletter from Whatcom Hospice—PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer, 2016
“Grief Writing Workshop
A Picture of You
By Kari Galbraith
We finished the last
jar of raspberry jam
that you and I made.
I rinsed the jar and
out of habit
began to remove the
label then thought
better…
filling the jar with fall
dahlias,
I set it on the
windowsill besides a
picture of you
smiling,
holding a piece of
toast dripping with
warm fresh raspberry
jam.
As you grieve, you may or may not be
surrounded by family and friends but there
are times we all feel alone and lonely.
Emotions and
thoughts come up
that feel foreign to
who you thought
yourself to be.
Writing helps to
mend grieving hearts.
Research has shown
journaling to have a
positive impact on
the grieving process.
It sets you back into
your life story with a
new insight and
perspective.
My name is Kari
Galbraith. I am a
retired hospice nurse and published poet. I
have studied Poetry Therapy and have
lead a grief writing group. I am facilitating
the Writing Workshop on October 11th
from 2:00-5:00pm. I invite you to join me.
Writing together, we can share, support
and learn. I offer writing techniques and
ideas in a safe and
nurturing environment
that may inspire you to
write. There will be
structured writing
exercises that are open
enough to
accommodate where
you are in your unique
grief process. The very
act of exploring
through writing can
lead to greater
understanding of what
gives you hope and
meaning. You need not
be a “writer” to attend.
To register for this free program, contact
Michelle Walsh at (360) 733-5877 or
email [email protected].
Sneak Preview: new grief groups offered in 2017
Beginning in January two
new opportunities will be
available for support for
coping with grief and loss.
A Journey toward Hope
and Healing ser ies is a six
week educational and
supportive grief group for
adults dealing with the
death of a loved one. A
Gathering for the Newly
Bereaved is a one time
session for those who have
been affected by a recent
death. It is a starting place
for the newly bereaved to
receive support. This one
time session may provide
what you need as you
continue your grief process
or you may decide to enroll
in additional programs.
Dates, time, location and
more details for these new
programs will be provided
in the fall newsletter.
Women’s Grief
Relief Group
The Women’s Grief Relief
Group will begin on
September 1st. This is a six
week series offered to women
who are grieving the loss of a
loved one.
The group will be held from
3:30-5:30pm at the Hospice
Administration Building,
2800 Douglas Ave.
Bellingham, WA. 98225
Pre-registration is required
for this no cost program.
Attendance is limited.
Please contact Michelle
Walsh at (360)-733-5877 or
[email protected]
Linking Objects, listen to the story
Hold a seashell up to your ear and
listen. You may hear the sounds of
the ocean. Although the shell no
longer is a live vessel for the life it
once contained,
through hearing
and touch, it
holds a story
that may be
sensed.
An important
and normal
aspect of
grieving is the
use of linking
objects that
make those
grieving feel
connected to
their deceased
loved one.
Death ends a life. It does not end a
relationship. Perhaps it is your time
to choose a touchstone item. There
are many choices when choosing a
comfort object. The object may be a
stone, shell or fossil found in nature
at a special place visited by you and
your loved one. A piece of material
from an article of clothing may be
stitched with love
into a comfort
object. It may be
helpful to consider
the size of the
item. Something
small and smooth
will fit in your
pocket. Creating a
necklace that is
worn close to your
heart may be
soothing. An item
that sits on your
desk is an option
for the workplace.
Feeling comforted by a linking
object is a normal grieving behavior.
For support from the hospice team,
consider attending a keepsake
workshop. See the article below for
more information.
Join us for a Memory Keepsake Workshop
In grief and loss we often seek a way to
stay connected to the individual who has
died. Many of us will keep articles of
clothing that belonged
to our loved one. The
familiar colors and
patterns in the clothing
remind us of our loved
one and hold our
memories through the
grieving process.
Linking objects may be made from the
clothing of your loved one who has died.
Whatcom Hospice makes it easy for you
to sew a Memory Teddy Bear or Memory
Pillow Case. We provide the supplies for
assembling the bears and pillows. You
bring the special article of clothing. Join
our hospice volunteer sewers in making
your personal keepsake object. No
sewing experience needed. Experienced
sewers are
encouraged to
bring their own
machines and we
can provide
instructions and
guidance.
Families are
encouraged to attend. The next workshop
will be held on Saturday, August 6th,
9:00 a.m. to 12:00p.m. For mor e
information and to register please call
Whatcom Hospice 360-733-5877 or
email [email protected]
The ideas and opinions in this
newsletter are offered for your
reflection only. We do not
promote any particular
philosophical or religious
perspective.
If you have comments,
suggestions, or would like to
submit a poem or article,
please call Whatcom Hospice
Bereavement Coordinator,
360-733-5877 or email:
[email protected]
2800 Douglas Ave,
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 733-5877