by Sydell Weiner | Nov 5, 2019 | Couples Counseling, Communication Tips, Non-Violent Communication, Relationships, Resolving Conflict
If your relationship is stuck in a cycle of blame, you probably wonder what happened to the feelings that brought you together. Don’t despair! It is possible to recapture the intimacy by learning a few simple tools. What follows are based on Marshall Rosenberg’s...
by Sydell Weiner | Aug 15, 2019 | Grief, Bereavement, Grief Support, Losing a Loved One, Losing a Spouse
The hospital smells of disinfectant, trying to mask the presence of illness and grief. I walk into my husband’s room and give him a hug. I hold on tight, and even though he’s too weak to reciprocate, I relish the familiar touch and feel of his skin. How, I...
by Sydell Weiner | Aug 14, 2019 | Losing a Loved One, Grief, Grief Support, Losing a Spouse, Losing a Spouse, Surviving loss
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” This quote is getting thousands of “Likes” on Facebook, but are acts of kindness what we practice in our everyday lives? In March of 2002, my husband Rex and I moved to a small fixer upper in...
by Sydell Weiner | Jan 16, 2018 | Bereavement, Age related Issues, Aging, Grief, Grief Support, Losing a Loved One, Losing a Spouse, Losing a Spouse, Surviving loss
I used to be pretty, I mean cheerleader, actress, head-turning pretty. Fortunately, I was also smart. I learned early that it would take more than good looks to make my way in the world. And as much as I’m struggling with aging, it’s harder for women whose...
by Sydell Weiner | Jan 15, 2018 | Early Mother Loss, Bereavement, Grief, Grief Support, Losing a Loved One
I ride to the cemetery with my step-sister’s daughter, a red-headed beauty who always makes me feel included. My step-brother’s daughter is sitting in the back with her husband and they are all sharing memories. Their beloved grandmother passed away...
by Sydell Weiner | Jan 14, 2018 | Early Mother Loss, Bereavement, Grief, Grief Support, Losing a Loved One, Motherless Daughters, Surviving loss
I reach for some strawberries as my father unpacks them from his grocery bag. “No, sweetheart,” he says, “we’re saving those for mommy.” I’m 12 or 13, and my mother is sick in bed. My father reassures me that she’ll get well, so I...
by Sydell Weiner | Jan 5, 2018 | Artistic Genius, Bereavement, Grief Support, Life after Death, Losing a Loved One, Losing a Spouse, Losing a Spouse, Relationships, Set Design, Surviving loss
As a director of theatre, I always appreciated the art of collaboration. Besides working with actors, I worked hard to bring together set, lighting and costume designers. When creative artists are open and feed off each other’s ideas, we do our best work. But at...
by Sydell Weiner | Jan 3, 2018 | Grief Support, Aging, Bereavement, Grief, Losing a Loved One, parenting, Relationships
“Mommy, can you sew a button on my P.E. uniform?” “Ma, I sat on my homework and it’s wrinkled, can you iron it?” “Mom, I signed you up to bring cookies on Thursday, OK?” These are the sounds that filled my home for over...
by Sydell Weiner | Dec 30, 2017 | Bereavement, Grief, Grief Support, Losing a Loved One, Losing a Spouse
Vacationing as a widow changes your perspective. Do relationships look the same on land and at sea? I’m on a cruise with my sister and brother-in-law, and as much as I love them, it’s my first vacation without my husband. My sweet Rex died a year and a...
by Sydell Weiner | Nov 25, 2017 | Artistic Genius, Bereavement, Genius, Losing a Spouse, Relationships, Set Design, Surviving loss
My husband Rex was a brilliant set designer. He did his best work in the scene shop behind the theatre at Cal State Dominguez Hills, where we worked together for 25 years. The shop was 50 x 100 feet with 30 foot ceilings, and every inch had a designated...
