A Tower of Grief by Nanette Neal Nanette and Chuck It’s a helpless feeling being a parent of a troubled young son who struggled to stop his drug addiction and remove the bad people in his life. It was a life filled with irresponsible behavior and constant partying. In March of 2023, I had another dreaded and frustrating conversation with my son, Chuck. He called and said, “Mom, I drank a bottle of NyQuil…. I just want to die.” I called 911. The paramedics arrived and drove hi

Dear Lani, By Philip Williams Philip Williams at work. Dear Lani, It’s 12:55 am on Thursday, February 20, 2025. I am standing next to the hospital bed where you are battling cancer and fighting for your life. To the left of your bed is our exhausted mom sitting in the chair by the wall, where she is watching her only daughter fighting for her life. She is exhausted and can barely stay awake. As mom periodically dozes off, I watch in agony as you slip in and

Overcoming the Guilt and Moving Forward With Life by Jolie Hackworth (Published in Preston’s Charm, June 2024.) Jolie and her husband Ronald My son, Jonathon Hackworth, grew up in Carmel, Indiana, and attended Carmel Clay Schools from K-12. He cherished his friendships and created meaningful memories. His favorite teacher was Ms. Aletto. Ms. Aletto led the students in the O Ambassador’s Club, a joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free the Children, launched in 2007. Jo

On my way to Pueblo, Colorado, I parked the camper van in the parking lot of the front entrance to the Petrified Forest National Park for a short rest. Before I left, I placed one of Wesley’s Charms on the bulletin board near the Park’s sign. Photo #1. Eight hours later, I received an email and photo from Alejanda Slentz. Photo #2. It is the quickest reply I received after leaving one of Wesley’s Charms! “Found at Petrified Forest National Park and will be joining us for a we

As I shared in a previous post, I’m discussing a collaboration agreement with the American Legion and the “Let’s Talk Grief™ Project.” I had a productive meeting with Nina McAmis, Event Planner for the American Legion Post #291 in Newport Beach. Nina liked the idea of the “Let’s Talk Grief™ Project” and offered suggestions for collaborating with the American Legion to one day provide grief workshops and gatherings at their posts. One suggestion was to complete the “Be the One

Charlene and Michael Kondrat My wife’s phone rang on June 18th, 2024, at 11 pm. After she answered the phone and heard the news, she called someone to wake me. Charlene and I were in South Dakota on a Lakota Sioux Reservation serving on a short-term mission trip with our church. We had traveled from Michigan to volunteer as counselors at a “kids camp” for a one-week session. When I arose and got to Charlene’s phone, I hear the somber voice of a caller that identified him

Every day in the United States, approximately 8,000 people die. Each death ripples through a network of relationships, affecting not only the immediate family but also friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others connected to the deceased. This creates a vast population of people experiencing grief. Yet, despite the widespread impact, only a small fraction of grievers seek out support groups. Why do so many people avoid these resources that could help them cope? This post explor

The Grief Never Goes Away by Shirley White (Published in Preston’s Charm book, June 2024.) Wayne and Shirley White My name is Shirley White. I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Wayne, for 35 years, and together we raised two sons here in our native Jacksonville, FL. Like most families, we had our ups and downs, but I’m very proud of the upbringing we were able to provide our boys. We encouraged them to live their dreams, but always with an impeccable work ethi

I’m paraphrasing and sharing a definition and journey of an entrepreneur by Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, because I feel it resonates with the grief journey a person takes after losing a loved one. “The life of an entrepreneur can be very lonely. Success is very hard to achieve. The challenges of being an entrepreneur are things you don’t expect. Therefore, a person's resilience must endure many, many times… unwilling to give up and fail. To be successful, an entr

Michelle Ferris, who lost her son Corban in 2020 after he drowned in a lake, hosted a birthday party last night to celebrate what would have been his 25th birthday. She decided to plan a gathering with relatives and friends to remember and honor him. “I always wonder and feel anxious as time goes forward with grief. If I invite people, will they come and show up?" Michele exclaimed in her mind. Of course they will! Last night, people showed up, and it was a special night for

It’s been quite a run carrying and passing Preston’s and Wesley’s Charms. I’ve been carrying Preston’s Charm for 4 years and 4 months. Wesley’s Charm for 3 years and 4 months. It’s hard to believe that this much time has passed since Wesley’s death. My journey with Preston’s Charm began on December 26, 2021, when I received it from Tammy and Junior Adams in Key West, Florida. After a conversation with Bridget, I asked her to send me more of Preston’s Charms. For the next eigh

Dale Linder-Sessock Dear Readers; We are gathered for this occasion so that I may say goodbye to my friend Grief. While Grief has lived a full and meaningful life inside of me for the past few years, the time has come to bid it farewell. It has brought out some of my worst and best behavior. It has stayed loyal by my side, whether I wanted it there or not. If I could count on anything, I knew that grief would be there to greet me each day - like a sock without a match; a car

Conquering My Grief and Healing With Grace by Corey Thornton Sr. ( Written in 2025) Grief doesn’t come with a manual. It doesn’t follow rules or timelines. It hits you like a freight train, and just when you think you’ve caught your breath, it hits again. I’ve lost two of my children, Autumn Rose Thornton on July 9, 2011, and Corey Thomas Thornton Jr. on March 7, 2022. Saying their names still hurts. Writing this feels like ripping open wounds that never healed. But I need to

The Loss of Two Children by Corey Thornton, Sr. (Written in 2022 and Published in Preston’s Charm Book, 2024.) I received Preston’s Charm from Hogan Hilling, whom I met through my friend, Tory DeFalco. Tory came to my house to pick up a load of wood that I donated to him. He brought Hogan along to help. After we finished loading his trailer, I told them that my oldest son, Corey Jr., had recently died and that I had also lost another child 11 years earlier, Autumn Rose, who

James Donaldson is a new member of the Let’s Talk Grief™ Project Team. He is the author of “Celebrating Your Gift Of Life: From The Verge Of Suicide To A Life, A Purpose And Joy (Mental Health & Suicide Prevention," published in 2021.) The book is divided into twenty-one chapters that share Donaldson’s story of his struggle with grief, depression, and suicidal thoughts after he retired from the NBA. It also offers practical advice on how he managed to work through this tragic

Grief is a deeply personal experience that often isolates those who suffer it. While sympathy offers gestures of kindness, empathy creates a bridge of understanding and ongoing support. This post explores the true meaning of empathy through real-life examples and a personal story of navigating grief alongside a loved one. It reveals how empathy can transform pain into connection and healing. A peaceful cemetery path symbolizing reflection and empathy Understanding Sympathy an

Grief is a deeply personal and often isolating experience. When someone is grieving, what they most need from others is not just kind words or pity but a genuine connection that helps them heal. Yet, many people struggle to offer this kind of support because they confuse sympathy with empathy. Understanding the difference between these two responses is essential for anyone who wants to help others through grief in a meaningful way. Grief healing requires seeing the bigger pic

That dreadful moment shattered everything—my world turned upside down in an instant. All my dreams, aspirations, and expectations came to a sudden, crushing halt. Ashley, my daughter, was only 32… far too young. Just married, with a new puppy. Full of life and then gone. In a second. There was nothing I could do but survive the heartbreak, endure the unimaginable pain, and somehow, try to move forward. Ashley died in February 2017 from an accidental overdose. She had been bat

Grief is a deeply personal journey, often filled with pain, confusion, and loneliness. Yet, once you reach a place where you can talk about your loss openly, a powerful next step emerges: helping others heal. This act of service not only supports those who are struggling but also fosters your own healing, creating a cycle of growth and hope. This post explores how turning grief into a greater purpose can bring peace and meaning to your life and the lives of others. Healing Wi

I’m excited to announce that Michael Straley is a new member of the Let’s Talk Grief™ Team! Michael will help me jumpstart the Let’s Talk Grief™ Project with the American Legion Posts in Pennsylvania and the surrounding states. Michael and his wife, Robin Straley, lost their two children, Leah Rene Straley and Christopher Scott Straley. Leah was 26 when she passed away on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2018, from a fentanyl overdose. Four years later, on November 14, 2022, Chr