Taking Life Moment by Moment and TAKE CARE

The more I understand grief and loss the more that I have come to realize that

On life's most difficult days
all that we can do
is simply take things
Moment by Moment.

Kirsti A. Dyer MD, MS, FT

During difficult times or challenging time sometimes the best one can do or hope to do is just take life moment by moment.

TAKE CARE During Difficult Times

Figuring out what to do when faced with life's challenges can be very difficult. In the recent blog on Coping with Sudden Death - A Series of Recent School Shootings I shared some tips for coping with loss with a reminder to focus on the basics after a sudden loss.

TAKE CARE has been developed as an acronym to be used as a to reminder to focus on the basics following a loss, death or significant life changing.

• Time that is needed to survive the grief.
• Avoid alcohol and other medications.
• Keep to some routine or schedule.
• Eat a balanced diet, focusing on healthy foods and water.
• Converse with others, especially those that have ‘been there’ and 'survived that.'
• Artistic ways of coping – journaling, building, crafting, knitting and others.
• Rest and Sleep are important coping strategies.
• Exercise to reduce stress and improve mood.

This reminder to TAKE CARE covers most of the basics to focus on following a loss that I have been recommending to people for years in coping with loss.

Photo Credit: Janet Goulden. Two Hearts. Royalty Free Use.

Light a Candle for Sacred Life Sunday

The first Sacred Life Sunday post is dedicated to Carla and her amazing candles. (If you haven't tried any of the Zena Moon Candles be sure to order some for your own sacred ceremonies.)

Creating a Mini Sacred Moment
I find during times of stress or duress or when I want to focus my thoughts on something, I will often light a favorite candle and just sit, watch the hypnotic flames and thing about Chandogya Upanishad's quote that

There is a light that shines
beyond all things on earth,
beyond us all, beyond the heavens.
This is the light that shines in our hearts.

Stopping to light a candle helps me to reconnect with the light that shines in our heart. Thanks to Carla, when picking out a candle to light I can choose one with a soothing, calming scent and combined with a favorite quote. (The one picture, intuition is the amazingly soothing scent of rain and plum.)

After lighting a favorite candle I can then sit for a few moments, watch the flame, focus on the quote and recenter myself as part of a mini sacred moment.

Creating a More Elaborate Sacred Moment
You can read about the A Cleansing, Healing Candle Burning Ceremony for suggestions on ways of creating a more elaborate sacred candle burning ceremony.

About Zena Moon Candles
Carla has made the Zena Moon Candles since 2000. Her unique hand-poured candles honor your journey, delight your senses and feed your spirit. I have a collection of her candles around my desk with "Inspiration," "Radiance," "Take a Risk," "Protection," "Faith," "Angel Blessings" and "Beyond Fear" are those closest at hand.

Sacred Life Sunday
This is a Celebrating Sacred Life Sundays Post, a weekly celebration of what is sacred and special in our life.

More on Lighting Candles:
Dyer KA. February 2008. A Cleansing, Healing Candle Burning Ceremony Grief, Loss & Transitions Blog.
Dyer KA. July 2007. Restoring Moment: Light a Candle. Type-A Mom Site.
Dyer KA. November 2007. Worldwide Candle Lighting Lens. Squidoo.

Celebrating Sacred Life Sunday

Carla Blazek at Zena Musings has come up with a wonderful idea for celebrating what is special or sacred to you in life by blogging about it weekly on Sundays.

She describes Sacred Life Sunday as follows:

Sacred Life Sunday isn't really a challenge -- that sounds too strenuous -- it's really more of a softening ... into a moment, a treasured possession, a companion -- people, parts and places of your everyday life that you cherish. Whatever is sacred to you.

For me, it might be my altar, a candle I'm burning, my dogs, the garden, a friend, a book I'm reading, nature, something I did, someplace I went, something important to me, or, who knows, maybe just my morning bowl of Cheerios!

The idea is to creatively connect with the holiness of my everyday life, plus I also need gentle kicks in the butt to turn OFF the game of Hearts and away from shadow comforts and turn towards God, life and others.

Grief, Loss & Transitions Blog Joins Sacred Life Sunday
The main idea of Sacred Life Sunday is to share something that is sacred to you or helps you connect with your spirit on a weekly basis.

So I'll be joining the Sacred Life Sunday with the Grief, Loss and Transitions Blog and sharing something that is special, sacred or healing to me or just helps me reconnect with special restoring moments.

Source: Carla Blazek. Welcome to Sacred Life Sundays. October 2007. http://zenamoon.typepad.com/weblog/2007/10/welcome-to-sacr.html

The Gift of Touch - Quote on Hug (Touch) Therapy

Today is Free Hugs Day. If you don't know about the inspirational Video that has become a YouTube Phenemonon take a look at the lens that I created on Squidoo.

In the the Spirit of the Free Hugs Campaign, I am passing along the information to you with a quote and a virtual hug to hopefully brighten up your day.

In a world that has grown more complicated, more fierce in the demands made upon our hearts and pocket books, there is one easy, free gift left. The power of touch.

Don't turn away from the elderly, disabled, terminally ill or long term care residents because their needs seem beyond your ability to give. The one thing they need the most is the most simple, yet profound gift you have to give. Your kind hand holding theirs and a hug from your heart.

The gift of touch is the most powerful healing you can offer another, and it is the most powerful healing you can give yourself.

Give generously and watch yourself grow rich in what matters the most. Hug often, hug well...I embrace your spirit....

Kathleen Keating Schloessinger

Free Hug Day - September 10, 2007.
The Free Hugs Campaign began as one person's attempt to make a difference and reach out to others to brighten their lives.

The Free Hug Campaign is a random act of kindness, a selfless act performed by a person for the sole reason of making others feel better.

For More information on Free Hug Day, see the Free Hug Campaign on Squidoo.

Enjoy a Virtual Hug
Here's Your Online Hug:

((( Hug )))

Now go and pass it on to someone else.

Photo Source: Mikas Vitkauskas. Chill in the Evening. Royalty Free Use.

Grief, Loss & Comfort Quote - Measuring a Life by the Quality of Moments

Wonderful sentiments about what is really important when you look back at the end of a life.

At the end of life,
it's the laughter,
the tears,
the shared joys and
the shared heartaches
that we remember.

The wealth,
the work,
the trials
and problems
are as nothing.

It's the quality of our days
and the people we share them with
that make all the difference.
Margaret James

May your days be filled with moments that matter.

Remember for more Grief, Loss & Comfort Quotes see our rotating quotes at the bottom of the page, or click on the Quotations or Quotes label.

Dyer KA. Grief, Loss & Comfort Quotes *Check out the bottom of the blog* http://grief-loss-info.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-blog-feature-grief-loss-comfort.html

Photo Source:Bobbi Dombrowski. Friendship. Royalty Free Use.

New Quotes of Grief, Loss & Comfort - A Reminder to live in the Present

From time to time I will be adding additional Grief, Loss & Comfort quotes to the site, to enlarge our collection. Here is one that I came across recently, a reminder how rapidly death can arrive, and to focus on the present moment.

Death can come at any minute, in any way.
We do not know what is in store tomorrow, or,
whether there is a tomorrow, or even a tonight!
But still, we have the golden present.
Now we are alive and kicking.
What should we do now? Love all, serve all.

Swami Satchidananda

For More Grief, Loss & Comfort Quotes see our rotating quotes at the bottom of the page.

Dyer KA. Grief, Loss & Comfort Quotes *Check out the bottom of the blog* http://grief-loss-info.blogspot.com/2007/07/new-blog-feature-grief-loss-comfort.html