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Patris's avatar

No way to quantify or calculate I have found. Wish you strength and peace.

There are no words that make it better, but this is a beautiful piece. Thank you for it.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

You are welcome and Thank You Patris.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

"Grief is as unique as the person suffering from it and the relationship that they had with the departed." All my life, I thought that grief was synonymous with sadness. I experienced grief for the first time when I was 74. Wow, was I wrong! I appreciated so much your definition of what it is to move on, Mark. One day at a time, as they say.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thank you, Sharron. I'm so sorry for your loss and the protracted sadness that tends to cling to us after losing our loved ones . . . until we are re-united with them. Emily has convinced me before and after her death that it is so. I just finished reading - "Many Lives, Many Masters" by Brian Weiss, M.D. and for me, it was very helpful in edging me past big hurdles of my scepticism.

Both of my parents died within 2 years of each other when I was in my mid fifty's. Losing my mother was relatively easy because her alcoholism kept me from ever getting close. Losing my father was gut-wrenchingly terrible (I thought I was gonna die) because of unresolved conflict which he'd refused to work on in spite of my many overtures to address it. . . and it lasted several minutes. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger"

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

I read Many Lives, Many Masters back in 2010. It had a profound effect on my perspective. My parents died only 4 mos apart after having been married over 50 years. They had to marry when my dad had just started at the university and my mom was a junior in high school - totally my fault for deciding it was time for me to enter their lives. Losing my mom put me into some interesting relationship dynamics with my dad and younger sisters since as the oldest I had to become "mom". Glad that period of my life was brief.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thanks, Debbie, for sharing your story.

That is such a terrible loss - sorry. I'm glad that book helped you as well. My wife Emily had been gently trying to get me to explore her concept of the "Great Adventure," for years. But, to be honest, it was just too far "out there." Now I realize that it's all around me / us.

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Evan Kasakove's avatar

I’m so sorry for you loss. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of writing.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

And thank you Evan for your kind feed-back.

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Diana van Eyk's avatar

I'm glad you're getting so much support, Mark.

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

Thank you, Diana

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Helene's avatar

I love reading your stuff , it has helped me I lost billy just a few months ago I wish I can find something to read that can me to move on I know he is in a good place now I just can't believe he is gone. Thinking of you keeping you in my prayers 🙏

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

I'm so sorry for your loss as well, Helene. I've been so immersed in my loss that I'd pushed yours into the background but will try to remember you all in my prayers. It's probably ever harder for you with younger "Kids. " Church, family, and friends - old and new keep my lifeboat headed toward more solid ground. Having said that, most days I have the same thoughts as you - I can't believe they're both gone but I take solace feeling ever more confident that I will see her again. Try to rest in that peace with Billy

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Helene's avatar

Thank you for the kind words they mean alot keep in touch

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Mark VanLaeys's avatar

It is good to see you here. Take care until we touch base again

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Deborah Hart Yemm's avatar

Sigh and hugs.

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Helene's avatar

I love reading your stuff , it has helped me I lost billy just a few months ago I wish I can find something to read that can me to move on I know he is in a good place now I just can't believe he is gone. Thinking of you keeping you in my prayers 🙏

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