from a participant in 30 Days of Gratitude:
“Congratulations! This is a great book, website and blog. I will pass it along to friends as I start my 30 days of gratitude.
I started keeping a Gratitude Journal years ago when Oprah featured Sarah Ban Breathnach, author of Simple Abundance on her show and talked about it. I’ve had many journals and many starts and stops over the years but I see the power when I do it regularly. Once I heard Oprah say that someone told her to be sure to keep a gratitude list when times were difficult. That didn’t make sense to me at the time as it seems that you have so much more to be grateful for when times are good. However, I have found in my own life that the power of gratitude is much stronger in difficult times. When your gratitude list includes things like skillful surgeons and compassionate hospice nurses it takes giving thanks to a new level.
There has not been any stage of my husband’s illness, death and even now living without him that I haven’t been able to identify something for which I am grateful. I also found that focusing gratitude on my Daddy during his final months transformed our relationship.
I am grateful for having you in my life. I wish you much success with this book and blog and I’ll do what I can to spread the word.”
~ Myra M.
Days of Gratitude 
I relate so well to your journey. I just wrote a few days ago that I’m relearning how to embrace my blessings. I lost my 19 year old son on 10/12/08 in a car accident. He was traveling with 3 friends while away at college. My son was the only one killed in the accident. His friends walked away uninjured. My mourning journey still feels so new and my family and I still are learning how to live a new normal.
Thank you for sharing your experience. We are holding you and your family in a place of comfort and healing.
Dear Always Mom of 4,
My heart goes out to you! I can’t imagine the difficulty of losing a child and so suddenly. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
I read Elizabeth Edwards book on Resilience and related to her writing about losing her son and the way she handled the grief and how she talks of parenting his memory. She also addresses losing him in her first book and I found it interesting to see the progression during the time that passed between the writing of the two books.
Coming to terms with a new normal that is one we don’t want or choose is difficult. My memories of my husband and knowing that he would want me to live life fully in his absence is comforting. Still, nothing fills the empty place in your life.
You’re in my thoughts and prayers!
Myra M.