When we enter a space of grief, what do we need to do to return to a space of joy? Do we need closure? These are two of the questions I explore in a talk for TEDxDesMoines. I invite you to watch and share your own thoughts on how we can carry joy and grief together. Beyond Closure – The… Read More
After a breakup, people often wonder, “Do I need closure?” No, you do not need closure, but there are other things you need. From romantic breakups to terrorist attacks people are told to find closure after bad things happen—“a satisfying ending” to a bad event. Closure has become central for explaining what people supposedly need to find in order to… Read More
Vidal Herrera travels around in a white minivan with 1-800-Autopsy painted on the side. Inside the van is everything he needs to perform an autopsy. Herrera says the autopsy business is growing and recession-proof. He operates three franchises in Florida, California and Nevada. Herrera claims, “People that are hurting need to find closure, pursue litigation or even get a second… Read More
From grief counselors to grieving parents, people fight the myth of closure. In Closure: The Rush to End Grief and What It Costs Us, I use the term Myth Slayers to describe people who warn others about the concept of closure. Read on to meet two of them. Myth Slayers are people who say, “There is no closure.” Some of… Read More
Almost six years ago, Jill’s husband died. She was 44 at the time. I do not know what it is like to be a widow. But through Jill’s stories, I am given a glimpse into that world. And generously, she is sharing her stories about love and grief with others. When discussing Closure on a radio program, I encouraged listeners… Read More
Hoping that victims will find “closure” in the Penn State sex abuse scandal is wrong. Using the concept of closure helps those responsible for the harm; it doesn’t help victims. What does “closure for victims” really mean when used in these political and criminal cases? Jerry Sandusky, former assistant football coach at Penn State University, is facing multiple sexual assault… Read More
“Nothing could have prepared 16-year-old Brooks Douglass for the future that lay before him. Brooks grew up in a loving family in a rural home near Oklahoma City. His father, Richard Douglass, was pastor of Putnam City Baptist Church, which housed over 3,000 members in its congregation. Brooks’ mother, Marilyn, devoted her time to her children, which in addition to… Read More
Longing to remember a loved one and to keep that person’s spirit and memories close is nothing new. For generations we have been finding ways to memorialize people. The idea is that if you carry someone in your heart and memory, then you can retain part of the bond you had in life. There are many ways people learn to… Read More
