Dearest Neighbor, This is one of the greatest fears The Living have following the death of a loved one, especially an unexpected or “untimely” death. Widows and Widowers. Loss Mamas, Papas, and Siblings. “Orphaned” children. [Insert your whatever.] We lament what will never be. “Lost time.” Things that “should be” but never will be. We have this sense of how … Read More
Ask Annah: How Can I Possibly Love Another as Much as I did My First?
Dearest Neighbor, A question of the ages, spoken by nearly every human that ever walked this earth. Though the query has been asked in countless ways, they all boil down to one ultimate question: “How do we quantify love?” “How can I possibly love another as much as I did my first?” Parents ponder this when thinking about or expecting … Read More
Ask Annah: How Do I Move Forward When the Past Keeps Repeating Itself? Part II: Overcoming Fear of Failure
Dearest Neighbor, I hear you. I feel your fear. I think it is fairly safe to say that all of us have experienced times where we keep making the same mistakes over and over. Maybe you keep choosing relationships with people who tear you down rather than lift you up. Maybe you burn dinner more nights than not because you … Read More
Ask Annah: How Do I Move Forward When the Past Keeps Repeating Itself? Part I, Relationships
Dear Neighbor, Oh, let me count the ways I understand your question. How do I move forward when the past keeps repeating itself? This question is deep and complex and covers so many areas of our lives and across each of our five facets. When it seems as if life keeps dealing you one blow after another, it can feel … Read More
Ask Annah: I Feel So Lost! How Can I Find My Way Through My Grief?
Dear Neighbor, I hear you. I feel your pain. I understand how crazy making it is to feel like you are walking in circles or to be utterly, hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere. I live on a two-hundred-acre parcel of land, complete with hills, valleys, and thick forests. My husband is an avid outdoors-man and can tell you … Read More
Ask Annah: How Can I Fix My Grief Pain?
Dearest Neighbor, I feel your pain and I am so very sorry for your losses. “How can I fix my grief pain,” you ask? I wish there was one simple answer I could give you, some magic wand I can wave to make the hurt all go away, but since I wasn’t born with those gifts, I’ll be happy to … Read More
Ask Annah: Where is MY Miracle?
Dearest Neighbor, I can relate to your feeling of helplessness, sadness, confusion, and desire for some promise, for anything, anything that will give you hope. Miracle? How can you think of the possibility when your life is a disaster and riddled with the worst pain you have ever imagined? I know how that feeling and those thoughts affected me. I … Read More
Ask Annah: How Do You Do It All?
Dearest Neighbor, Social Media Highlight Reels. Glitz. Glamour. Got-it-all-together goodness. Do these qualities exist? Sure. Do they exist all the time? For anyone? Not on your life. Comparison is one of our greatest life hurdles, which affords it a front row seat in The Five Facets Philosophy on Healing programs. This question came to me leading up to the holiday season and … Read More
Ask Annah: Can I Say Screw You to the New-Year-New-You Resolutions Hype?
Dearest Journeyer, Your inbox is filled with NEW-YEAR-NEW YOU invites to every type of inspirational class and program known to man. Your friends are breaking out words for the year of 2018: TRUST! FLOURISH! REFLECT! DRIVE! DANCE! People are posting vision boards and nearly shouting how they are signing up for weight loss programs, writing classes, and locking in one-year … Read More
Ask Annah: Does Grief Last Forever?
Dearest Neighbor, First, I’m sorry for your loss and your heartache. Please know that, though it might sometimes feel like you are all alone, you have a world of support to help you in your grief and beyond. Will your grief last forever? It doesn’t have to, Journeyer, but it all depends on you. In the 5 Steps of Healing, … Read More