Snow at our residence. NOR’EASTER, Feb. 1, 2021: New Jersey had 30″+ snow.
Hello Everyone,
**My book, “The Test of my Hindu Faith” had a dual purpose: to spread the Kindness and raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Association. We have donated $1,500.00, 100%+ proceeds of the sale to the Alzheimer’s Association. I want to thank all those who bought my books and made it possible for me to donate to a worthy cause. Alzheimer’s Association is helping people on a local, state and national level 24/7.
**Grief and Grieving
**Life is not a bed of roses. We have to face challenges throughout our lives. These challenges have to be met successfully. Because they can make or break your life.
I know some of you have lost your loved ones during this Pandemic. No matter how much you prepare yourself ahead when you have lost your loved one, it seems like the end of the world is coming. On Oct. 14, 2020, my husband of 47 yrs., Richard, passed away. After the funeral the real challenges came. Richard was a former Catholic Priest for over 30 yrs. He always gave me the right advice, and I depended on him. Now, I have no one to guide me and there is no end of grieving. The psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, in 1960’s wrote about five stages of terminal illness which are also recognized about other kind of losses such as the death of a loved one.
- Denial 2 .Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance
Once I started crying, I cried for hours. So, I started reflecting back to my family values and teachings. I said to myself: grow up, find the ways to deal with it, have faith in God, trust yourself, and come out on the top of the world. I have to come back to reality:
- Sometimes I think there are two of me. One wants to stay home and cry. The other one is saying get up, move, and go out. I push myself, get dressed and go out. Try not to stay home more than 2-3 days in a row. I go to Hindu Temple for the peace of my mind and go to St. Ann Church to pray for Richard twice a week. Then on the way back, once a week I stop by at the grocery store and buy some fruits and/or chocolate to reward myself.
- I started meditating 2 to 3 times a day. I sure will increase my Telomeres, get smart, and calm down my brain. It will also keep the family tradition going.
- I started calling or sending out emails to my friends every day, talk to them to let my grievances out, and they support me.
- Beside doing Yoga, I have joined in-house gym twice a week. Shortly, I will go back to the other gym and start taking Zumba again – my favorite. I also have joined the Knitting group. In the summer I will join the Walking group again.
- Those outstanding medical bills can get on your nerve. So, I let them sit for a couple of days then I get my notebook out, pull a chair over, talk to insurance company for hours, and resolve the problem in a satisfactory manner. I have already returned the unused hospital bed the one that was causing a lot of problem.
- In the evening after dinner, I don’t stay home and cry, but I go out for a walk or just stand outside the building for 1 to 2 hrs., weather permitting.
- I started taking Bible classes (something new) every other week, and started meeting the religious groups. I also started reading the holy Hindu books on weekends to keep my mind occupied.
- I started doing cross-word puzzles and other word games, with a dictionary sitting on my lap.
- Every day I have to go out and do one good act of kindness to thank the God for giving me life.
- I have promised myself not to throw my life away by grieving. But to make most out of it. I keep on reminding myself, don’t get disappointed, the healing process takes time, and it will never heal 100%. I have to accept the facts of life the way they are.
If your grief interferes with your daily life then join a support group or seek professional help.
**Life is a pleasure not a pain
Life is a sacrifice not a desire
Life is happiness not sadness
Life is learning not wasting
Life is a purpose make a difference. Sushil
Prayers and Healing for all human being,
Sushil (Sue) Hennessy, March, 2021
Random Acts of Kindness
You don’t need money, just a little time to give mental support and be kind to all. Check on the elderly, bring their Newspaper to their door in bad weather, say hello to your neighbors when you see them, wish them happy holidays and birthdays etc. Call your parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles; talk to them to make sure they are not lonely. Thank the soldiers when you see them for keeping us safe; thank priests, police officers, teachers, health care workers, food suppliers, postal workers, newspaper persons, trash collectors for their services. Write notes to a lonely and unknown person and make his or her day. Give thanks to all those heroes who are sacrificing their lives to help others during this Pandemic. You all are Angels.
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