We are mothers healing together, returning from our retreat at Wiawaka Holiday House in Lake George, renewed and fortified. We are a mighty bunch.
Do not tell us to move on or get over our loss. Listen to our stories rather than try to give us advice. In different ways, we carry our children who died. They go with us into our future and inspire us to keep dreaming and tend to new endeavors in their honor.
If you see us singing to the moon, hooting with the steamboat Minnie-Ha-Ha, doing yoga in the woods, wearing our children’s clothes, sniffing summer blooms, relinquishing our private storms to reiki, laughing and crying simultaneously, singing our daughters’ songs, throwing pebbles into the lake, holding hands with thumbs facing left, looking for signs from angels, walking labyrinths while ringing bells … do not think we are mad. We are simply living our lives – for two, maybe more.
What do you do to keep alive the memory of a lost loved one? How has your loved one inspired you to change your life?
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Gorgeous, Robin. I’m so glad you have this community. Vic lives in the hospice bereavement work I do and also in my writing.
When he died, I knew I had no more excuses for not taking risks.
I’m going to “chew” on that a little longer, Elaine. “No more excuses for not taking risks.” Okay, I haven’t told anyone yet but I am going to Colorado for another mothers’ retreat. All by myself. In the foothills of the Rockies. In a cabin alone after the retreat has ended. And I will need to keep these words in mind because it would be so easy to hole up alone in that cabin, in the mountains. If I want to make the most of my time in Colorado, I will have to take risks. Scary. Cheers!
Robin ,
Thankyou so much for your blog .
The image within the photograph is very powerful. This Mothers retreat was more important to me than I ever could have imagined. Your words were wonder.
Thankyou,
Jody
Yay, Jody! You made it to my site and responded! Thank you so much. I was so proud of you at the retreat. I could see you were pleased to be there. It was a beautiful time and I’m hoping we can load up the car with sister-mothers and go again next year. Cheers!
Thank you Robin! You give voice so eloquently to our sorrow, struggle, and courage… your words are so spare yet so profound.
Robin, thanks for sharing the joys and sorrows of your recent Lake George retreat. Laughing and crying at the same time–yes, I’ve been there. Sending thoughts of love and peace your way.
Thank you, Lynne. I’m sending love and peace back at you and really appreciate your being out there for me.
So beautifully said! Thank you so much.
Welcome to my site, Karen. And thank you so much for listening, for responding. It was great to meet you last week and spend time. I hope you were as inspired as I was from being together with other mothers who carry children in their hearts. Cheers!
Beautiful reflections, Robin. As I witnessed the sharing circle you lovely ladies formed, the word “infusion” kept coming to me. You all are infused with the spirits of your children and they are blessed that you are the vessels that carry them on into this world. Peace and love to you.
Margaret Snow
I love that, Margaret. “Infused with the spirits of our children.” I think it’s perfect. But I believe that we mothers, the “vessels that carry them on,” are the ones who are blessed. Much peace and love to you too.