In this week's blog, I continue revealing the grief that I felt in my early years in life, as well as words that I soulfully hope will help you all to experience peace.

I wrote the following excerpt in November of 1986 as a sophomore in college and 19 years old.  I had endured more loss up until that time than many do in a long, lifetime.  My mother and father and a very close aunt and uncle divorced, my grandfather died of cancer and was buried on my 10th birthday, as previously written, my sister Darlene was hit by a car and killed when I was 11 and my father lost his battle with alcoholism when I was 14.  Unbeknownst to me at 19, my uncle and godfather, a City of Pittsburgh policeman would perish in a motorcycle accident while on duty just a few years later.  Sadly, I began to expect loss, but somehow found a way to have hope that life would someday reveal stability, peace and joy.

As stated last week, I am revealing all of this to you to provide a sense of hope that even during the worst of times, we can find a way to.....

Tie a Knot and Hang On!

After many different experiences  

We begin to wonder  

We begin to learn  

We begin to accept 

With each experience  

Strength is gained 

And we learn to walk on two feet  

Instead of being carried 

We understand that in order to grow  

We sometimes must grieve 

And in order to win  

We must fight 

But we do not always cry  

Nor do we always wear gloves 

Rather, we allow ourselves to hurt  

But withstand the pain 

And we fight  

But not with fists  

Rather with words and emotions and promises 

To walk tall  

And strong   

And to endure 

We promise....    

To live!!!

Sometimes, we may feel that we are at the end of the rope.  When this happens, tie a knot, hang on and ask someone, anyone to help lift you up.

May you find peace, for even a moment.  And may those moments grow to hours, days, months and years!

Dr Lorri