From My Window
The first week in June I’m off to Boston for vacation. I have so many things planned, I don’t know if I’ll have time to see my alma mater, Wheelock College of Education and Human Development, now part of Boston University. I received an outstanding education at Wheelock and am grateful for it.
In July I’m headed for Denver, CO to speak at the Compassionate Friends National Conference. My workshop is titled, “Got Grief Brain?” Thanks to my talented daughter, Amy Hodgson, for making the PowerPoint slides. I think I’ve planned a helpful, interesting workshop and hope to see a full room.
I am grateful to the Rochester (MN) Art Center and Olmsted Historical Society for carrying Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles in their gift shops. Recently I learned that parents are giving Grief Doodling to children who have lost a beloved pet, an idea that hadn’t occurred to me. Some grief experts think Grief Doodling is an interactive book for all ages.
Photo by Peggy Freel.
In case you’re wondering, I love doodle art and turned my husband’s bedroom, formerly a hospital room, into my art studio. A room that used to be a place of sadness is now a place of joy. Doodle art adorns every wall and joy is evident in every picture. Since I’m a terrible gardener (I call myself Mrs. Blackthumb), I love do doodle flowers. This is the kind of “gardening” I can manage. Instead of buying birthday cards, I give friends original, matted doodle art.
Reviews
Reviews are coming in for my latest book, Winning. Here are some examples.
The book is a raw, honest, and inspiring grief journey filled with hope and resilience. ~ Judy Lipson, author of Celebration of Sisters.
Harriet is a keen, creative, compassionate [grief] guide. ~ Neil Chethik, author of Father Loss.
Every school of nursing and every school of psychiatric nursing should have this book. ~ Ruth Kahn, PhD, Emeritus Director of Nursing Education, National Institutes of Health.
Harriet interweaves personal story with practical actions to take and ways to change patterns of thought. . . . Her style is both beautiful and easy to understand and relate to. ~ Jan Warner, author of Grief Day by Day.
Book Business
“Woman’s World” magazine is publishing a story about my doodle art and book, Grief Doodling: Bringing Back Your Smiles. The story will be in the July 27th issue. I can hardly wait to see it!
Graphic designer, Rebecca Lown, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, has designed several book covers for me. She created the cover of Winning and just designed the cover of my 46th book, Grief in Your Words. This concise, square book has room for readers to write, and will be released in a year. To learn more about Rebecca, please visit http://www.rebeccalowndesign.com.
Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lown.
Quote of the Month
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
Photo by Kathy Meyer, RN.