Thursday, July 17, 2008

Stumbling Blocks

Dear Reader,

Since the creation of LifePrints in the spring of 2007, I've dedicated myself to posting on a regular basis. You may have noticed that since May I've slowed down. Some of that due to my schedule and the rest due to hardship in my family...that's about the time Casey, my brother, went into hospice care.

Since his death last month I've hardly written at all, except to write about him. I know you come to LifePrints for a daily dose of the positive, to maybe lift you out of your gloom.

My cherished reader and friend, it's my turn. I need somewhere to go and it's not to my own writings or my blog. I apologize.

Things will get better and LifePrints will go back to normal. It will again be a constant source of uplifting content. Just not today and maybe not tomorrow. So, faithful reader, grant me that time. It may be only a few more days. I have ideas in the works. They are on the tip of my tongue. It will come. I know. Just not today.

Please keep checking back for new content. If you came here today needing what I need - a little pick me up and some reassurance that the world is a safe and compassionate place. You can still find it. Search the archives. There are over 200 posts to prove that despair and fear are mostly wasted energy and there is hope for our planet and the people who live and love on it.

God Bless,

Lisa

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lisa,

I'd wondered where you'd "gone" so shortly after running into you online.

First I wasn't going to leave this message. Then I looked and read again and thought maybe it would be a mistake not to. Please delete if unwanted.

My sister will be going through what you are - my best guess is within the coming year. I'm mostly bedridden now.

You might be interested in what's on my site. It took me 25 years to write under seriously adverse circumstances and it's about the whole thing - the terrible stuff as well as the good stuff.

And I think it's fair to say it's profoundly hopeful.

You're in my thoughts,

Paul Martin

Heather said...

Lisa, I love that you are healthy and put taking care of yourself and your family first. That's the way it should be. From a blogging perspective, we'll be here when you're ready to come back. From a friend perspective, I'll be thinking of you regularly and hope to stay in touch.

Best to you and your family, Heather

Lisa McGlaun said...

Heather and Paul and everyone who has expressed their concerns and prayers,

I so appreciate all of your words. It's good to know that at times like this we are not alone. Others have walked this path many times and come through the fog to the other side. It helps to know. And I know it. All will be fine in time.

Best Wishes,
Lisa

Quill and Greyson said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Sometimes you have to go into yourself to find your center again.

Lisa McGlaun said...

Thank you, Fin. I think you are right. I appreciate the personal email and this note.

Peace,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I lost my mother at a young age and it took a lot of soul searching to come back to myself again. I write a column about a character who always tries to find the best in life. Maybe it will bring a smile to your face - http://www.thesteamboatlocal.com The column is Audrey Rose.

My thoughts are with you.

SteamboatEcobroker

Michael J. Kannengieser said...

Hi Lisa,
I am terribly sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. Please accept my sincerest and most heartfelt condolences for your loss. I sense your pain in your words here, and please know that I will always be here for you at LifePrints because you are a genuine person whose writing is powerful and life affirming. My prayers are with you and your family. Take your time, do not rush into blogging, as the internet will always here. You will always be a blogging friend, and feel free to reach out to me if you need to. You need not post anything to your blog, and your readers, myself included, will always be here out of concern and compassion.

As writers and bloggers, our lives come first, blogging and the rest come in a distant last. Once again, I am sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. -Mike

Gina Stepp said...

Lisa,

I know firsthand what you're going through and I'm looking forward to reading what you write after this experience. Paul, I'm interested in seeing what you've written as well, and will go look at your site shortly.

I lost my closest brother two years ago, and I STILL have trouble sometimes. Shortly after he died I wrote a couple of articles on grieving--spent a lot of time researching the subject, and it did help. But I miss him daily. I can't take his name off my cell phone, and his name is still on my Skype list as well. I've even dialled his old cell phone number once or twice just to regain that feeling of being able to. At first it was disconnected, now I know it belongs to someone again, because a voice answered the last time. I can't help feeling a little wacky for holding on to those little bits of evidence he was here . . . but two years later I'm still not ready to get rid of them.

If you're interested in the two articles I wrote to get me through the worst part, you will find them here:

One is called "Give Sorrow More Than Words: The Neuroscience of Grieving" http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=2166

And the other is about the fact that sometimes people overlook siblings during the grieving process. It's called: "Disenfranchised Grief" http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/article.aspx?id=2202

I won't pretend they will help you a great deal; it's going to be your own writing that will do that when you get around to it.

I'm thinking of you though and am here for you whenever you feel you need to vent.

I'm so sorry for your terrible loss.

w/love and much empathy,
Gina

Lisa McGlaun said...

Gina,

Thank you for your kind words. I'm sure the articles will be helpful.

I'm sorry that we share this experience. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I know what you mean about keeping things.

I found a bunch of old emails from Casey the other day. I read them all and couldn't make myself delete them. It was like he was alive. The vibrant Casey of before his accident was talking to me again. It was powerful.

My dad said he found some old casette tapes he'd made when Casey was small. He felt the same way. He was overjoyed to hear his voice again.

Thank you for sharing with me. I really appreciate it. More than you could know.

Love,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...

Mike,

I can't tell you what that means to me. You are my friend, the kind that's bred on the internet but would certainly flourish in person. Thanks for being there. Someday I look forward to meeting you and your wonderful family.

Hugs,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Hello Lisa,

I love your blog! I hope you don't mind that I put it on my favorites. If you would like to check out my blog it's "Hope for Coping with Traumatic Stress" at http://hopetocope.blogspot.com. I just started so there's not much yet, but intend to do more with it soon.

Take care of yourself Lisa. Hang in there!

Sincerely,

Faith

Melissa said...

Lisa,

As a mother who lost both of her twin sons in January, I can tell you that writing about your loss helps to get the pain and sadness of your chest even if it is only for a brief moment. It allows for us to purge ourselves of the anguish and the heartbreak. It helps to keep the memories we cherish so much alive.

Melissa

Lisa McGlaun said...

Melissa,

Thank you for sharing with me. I can't imagine how painful that experience was for you. I am the mother of five and the thought of losing one of them makes me physically ill. God Bless You.

It does help to write and to talk about Casey. My father calls me most every day and we talk for a little while about Casey. It has helped. I don't want to forget him. That's not the way to feel better.

Thanks again for commenting. It means alot to me.

Peace,
Lisa