Voices of Experience: Slipping Away

Some people believe holding on and hanging in there are signs of great strength. However, there are times when it takes much more strength to know when to let go and then do it.  ~ Ann Landers

Silver Butterfly Wings is a story of transformation, of the many paths and decisions Wendy Willow faced while going through the process of grief. The death of her husband left her utterly shattered, unable to imagine a life without him. Then signs from the other side appeared, filling her with hope: flickering lights, hawks flying overhead, their song on the radio, a butterfly’s silvery wings, a hot spot on his side of the bed. At first she was sceptical. How could her dearly departed be sending signs and messages from across the veil?

Grief Healing: Where Did You Get That Name?

[Reviewed and updated September 9, 2025]

Heal-ing: (n) - the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again; (adj) - tending to heal; therapeutic. Example: "a healing experience." Synonyms: alleviate, ease, assuage, palliate, relieve, help, lessen, mitigate, attenuate, allay. ~ Marion Institute

When I was deciding many years ago what name to give my collection of Grief Healing websites, I struggled with whether to use the word “healing” in my title, because I knew that the notion of healing from grief can seem offensive to some. After all, those of us who are anticipating or coping with the loss of a loved one know full well that grief is not an illness to be cured or a physical injury from which we will recover.

Understanding and Managing Grief, May 31 - June 6, 2015

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Virtually grieving - the changing face of coping with loss, http://j.mp/1MbOYha « eHospice

On explaining death to children: No More Erasers! http://j.mp/1F084BJ « Suzanne J Bayer

6 Practical Steps for Transforming Loss, http://j.mp/1FC6Z3v « Maria Shriver

Understanding and Managing Grief, December 22 - December 28, 2013

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

Friday Favorites: December 27, 2013, http://j.mp/K9Dlxj « What's Your Grief?

HFA's Helping Adolescents Cope with Loss webcast, April 10, 2014 http://j.mp/18OvDUC « Hospice Foundation of America

Grief Is Forever (and That's OK), http://j.mp/JhMQug « Modern Loss

Understanding and Managing Grief, August 19 - August 25, 2012

Best selections from Grief Healing's Twitter stream this week:

• Secondary loss: Maggie's Cool Car - A Goodbye, http://j.mp/Qz1qZQ

• Great read! Robin Amos Kahn: How Your Loss Can Transform You, http://j.mp/PMDN3z

• Lovely! "Grief is to be trusted, not treated," http://j.mp/Ob7VGb by @survivegrief

• Grief Beyond Belief: Faith-free support for non-religious people, http://j.mp/zzbmYe

• Powerful story from Grief Digest Magazine » Growing Up, http://j.mp/PYtsTX