Breathing Again: ...thoughts on life after loss

Sooner or later, death touches us all. And we grieve. Sometimes the grief is your own. Sometimes it comes second hand as someone you love mourns. What do you say to ease a friend's grief? What do you do? What helps and what hurts?

Most people are uncomfortable with death. Many are uncomfortable with being close to someone who is consumed by mourning. Having no idea what to say or what to do, they often do the wrong thing. Or fearing that, they do nothing.

Breathing Again is for those who want to help someone who is mourning but who feel helpless in the face of that sorrow. It is for those outside the grief, the friends who want to help yet fear doing the wrong thing. Its brief, easy-to-read stories were written to help you better understand your friend or loved one's pain and be a better friend to them at a time when your friendship and love are needed most. Although your friend may not be able to ask for your support, perhaps this book will help you know what you can do even if you are not asked.

Author: Cathy Marley
Publisher: Cjm Press
Published: 02/11/2018
Pages: 218
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.57lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.46d
ISBN: 9780999051801

About the Author
Marley, Cathy: - Cathy Marley is an award-winning freelance writer/author, entrepreneur, wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She lives a contented life in Phoenix, Arizona, with Norm, her soul mate and husband of over forty-four years. Fur babies Jake and Molly the dogs, Sugar the cat, and Joe the cat who thinks he is a dog, make for an exciting household. Cathy and Norm's extended family includes Norm's three (now only two on this side) adult children, seven adult grandchildren, and at last count, 15 great grandchildren. A former aerospace techie, Cathy dismissed her creative talents for most of her professional life until she discovered a passion for writing in midlife. She founded CJM Communications, Inc. to provide writing services to small businesses. After years spent writing and ghost writing professionally for others, she was first published under her own name in Love in Bloom, a creative collection of essays, short stories, and poetry from Women Writers of the Desert. Shortly thereafter, Cathy wrote and published Peeking Over the Edge...views from life's middle, a collection of her own reflections on life as she reached middle-age. It marked her personal validation and transition from "writer" to "author." As a member of Women Writers of the Desert, Cathy formed a friendship with fellow writers Joy Collins and Betts McCalla. That friendship deepened after both Betts and Joy suffered the loss of their husbands and soul mates. As time went by, they taught her about grief by sharing their experiences in making their way through the minefield that is grief. As their friend, Cathy sought ways to help them work through that grief and ultimately find peace. This book and From Grief to Peace, the company they founded to help others who are grieving, arose from that time. Cathy continues to be a regular contributor to the From Grief to Peace blog (www.FromGriefToPeace.blogspot.com) which inspired her to once again collect her reflections in book form. Breathing Again ... thoughts on life after loss was written from the perspective of someone who wants to understand what a grieving friend is experiencing, and in the truest spirit of friendship, provide love and support as that friend finds his or their way to peace. Cathy's website is www.CathyMarley.comChuchman, Ma Cdos John: - John Chuchman is a man of many facets-pastoral bereavement educator and companion, poet, and author. A gentle soul, he changes lives in the sensitive workshops, seminars, in-service programs, and retreats he regularly offers. And he calms hearts with his wise words in his many books, where he shares his life experiences, spiritual discoveries, frustrations with institutional church, keys to grief healing, as well as his own personal and spiritual growth. While still employed with Ford Motor Company, John began volunteering with Hospice of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1990. To his amazement, he was of help to men who had lost their wives and so upon retirement, John continued on with Hospice work with Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix, Arizona and North Country Hospice, Kalkaska, Michigan. John was awarded a Certificate in Spirituality from Kino Institute in Phoenix and in 2000 a Master of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministries from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. His Master's Thesis was on Forgiveness; A Key to Grief Healing, a synopsis of which was published in Bereavement magazine. In July 2010, he was ordained a Priest of The Catholic Diocese of One Spirit, CDOS. From retirement to date, John has conducted grief support groups, seminars, retreats, and in-service programs for hospices and church groups of all denominations all across the country. He has written 17 books with Sacred Quest; Growth Through Loss and Love containing all the slides and handouts used in his workshops. More and more, John has been receiving requests for workshops and retreats on spirituality and spiritual nurturing reflecting people's needs and hunger. John and his wife Marilyn live six months each in Northern Michigan and in Arizona. With one son Mark, passing in 2006 at age 46, they enjoy their other three children and their grandchildren. John's website is www.sacredtorch.com His e-mail is poetman@torchlake.com