Shirley Enebrad

Author, Speaker & Grief Counselor

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100 Lessons to Help You and Your Loved Ones Cope with Loss

100 Lessons to Help You and Your Loved Ones Cope with Loss

December 3, 2013 by Shirley Enebrad Leave a Comment

This morning I had the pleasure of chatting on the radio with Audrey Pellicano who is also a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. She lives and works in NYC.  Her show is called “Grief Relief with Audrey Pellicano”.  Audrey’s husband passed away from leukemia and she has dedicated her life to helping others. We have a lot in common and it was a terrific interview. One of the questions that Audrey asked me was why I wrote Six Word Lessons on Coping with Grief. It was an easy answer because the opportunity fell into my lap so to speak and I promised my son that I would help people who are grieving and those who are afraid of death. Each of the 100 lessons have six words and then are described in 40 words or less. My book has helped many people and I hope will continue to be a resource for those who need it.

My first book Over the Rainbow Bridge had a strong impact on Audrey because she said that it opens the door for people who have had after death experiences or spiritual contact with loved ones who have passed over the rainbow bridge and could help them to feel that their experiences are okay. I once had a man tell me that he had a near death experience as a child. When he tried to tell people about it, he was told not to speak of it because no one would believe him and people would think he was crazy. He called me and told me how my book had validated his experience for him and that after several decades of thinking he was weird he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. I had not thought of that man until today. I hope he felt safe enough to share his experience with his loved ones.

Audrey and I also talked about how to get through the holidays.  Sometimes the grief hits you like a big wave…it can knock you off balance or make you feel as if you are drowning. As in a previous blog post about how to survive the holidays, Audrey and spoke about how difficult the holiday season can be on those who are grieving. She asked my opinion on the most important tip I could offer during this time.  I told her that we must honor those who have left us and not try to pretend they didn’t exist or that they are just away. Be sure to include your loved ones in your holiday celebrations because they are still with you in spirit and deserve to be remembered.  If your regular rituals are creating too much stress for you because of your loss, make new ones.

Please be sure to take good care of yourself during the stress of getting through the holidays without your loved one. He or she is with you in your heart and in your memories. Cherish those you love who are still here  but try to focus on all of the good times you had  with the person who died.  Be grateful for the time you had together and get good sleep, eat healthy foods and be well.

Live Aloha,

Shirley

 

 

 

Denial, Grief, Life and Living, Self Care

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Reviews & Testimonials

I just have to tell you that your book has become a part of me.  I have milked it by only reading it when I was alone and quiet.  I feel I know little Cory now.  It has been a privilege getting to know his sweet spirit.  Thank you so much for sharing a small part of him with me.  I would love to see the video that was made.  Bless your heart for the pure love and strength that you instilled in your sweet baby.  Cory is a true gift to all who get to share his story.
Pamala Butler Iacovitti, Wichita Falls, Texas (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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Over the Rainbow Bridge is an intelligent and emotional book that exhibits an unforgettable life and death of a child wise beyond his young years. You don’t have to be grieving to get Cory’s life lessons.
Karen Minton, MA, CAN, Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, Maine
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Cory was my favorite patient ever and he taught me more than I could ever teach him. His lessons about Summerland (the afterlife) were profound and his drawings of what he saw ‘Over the Rainbow Bridge’ helped thousands of people get in touch with their long-buried emotions.
Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, Famed researcher & author of 16 books ‘On Death and Dying’
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Although I haven’t experienced too much loss, this short, to-the-point book gave me a wealth of very important information on how to help others cope with grief, and how to know what to expect when it happens to me. I learned about things to say and not to say to those grieving, and how important it is to let yourself go through the process when you experience loss. The author knows what she is talking about, as she has experienced extensive loss herself. Concise and helpful tips!
P. Pacelli, Sammamish, WA (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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Shirley, I can’t tell you how much your book touched my life. Your son was an amazing boy-such an upbeat, inspiring, beautiful little boy… although I cried, I also celebrated the person he was. And your writing made me feel like I was a part of your life with your son, instead of just reading about it. Images came to mind. Like when you had to walk that long distance to the hospital with your son in your arms after your car broke down. There were so many others… and the laughs I had with the ghosts!  The feelings I experienced while reading –I … Read more
Lisa Salvati, TV News Reporter, New York (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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I loved this very human and touching story of a family’s journey with a terminally ill child. Although it was sad, it was also courageous and funny. It was far more about living than about dying, and offers a positive example for all of us to value each day. The messages about life beyond death’s door are intriguing, uplifting, and very believable. Thank you for a beautiful read.
Marcia Shaver (after reading Over the Rainbow Bridge)
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The written word can be very powerful and moving, and every so often there is a book that can truly change lives; Over the Rainbow Bridge is that important. It is a true account of a heroic child’s mission in his short life to teach us about love and life, that one and both are the same: eternal. In our culture, where death is almost a taboo subject, Over the Rainbow Bridge will help us confront our fears and embrace life in a “down to earth” way. It is accessible, a comfort to read, as if being embraced by an old friend.
Gei Chan, well-read Artist & Designer
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The greatest gift I received from reading “Over the Rainbow Bridge” is a comforting peace about death and dying. Death is not an ending, but the beginning of a new phase. Powerful. Thanks Cory for your wisdom.Through the life of this 9 year old boy, I learned more insights about heaven and the afterlife than I ever learned by attending church. I don’t know who I’m more impressed with—Cory, a young man who even in death was the most positive, inspirational person I never met; or his mother Shirley who had the courage to really list… Read more
Shelly Heesacker, Freelance TV Field Producer for ‘Oprah’ and ‘The Dr. Phil Show’
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This primer on grief is practical , honest, and totally on the money about feelings, thoughts, and behaviors which are part of the human experience of grief and loss. The six word lessons are understandable, strengthening, and probably because there are only ‘six words’ easily remembered. It also takes direct aim at the guilt experienced about ‘the need to talk about it’.
William M Womack MD, Psychiatrist ("Six Word Lessons" On Coping with Grief)
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Having dealt with the loss of my son, I can totally relate to this book. While reading it, I found myself reflecting back to the “stupid” things that people said to me when I was in the throes of so much pain that I couldn’t see past the very next second. I am comforted by Shirley’s words which are down to earth and easily understood. This book WILL help you if you let it. It is a quick read and is one of the things that I like most about it. Grief is a lifelong journey that changes over time so take care of your heart and read this book. It is… Read more
April Braykovich (Kirkland, WA) (after reading Six-Word Lessons on Coping with Grief)
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