Health and Wellness | Sheila Collins

Eulogy for a sister Mary Jane Smith

by Sheila Collins | Aug 16, 2023 | Community, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Health and Wellness, Personal Stories, Spirtuality, The Art of Grieving

I insisted on speaking on behalf of my sister Mary Jane because I am the only one in the room who was there at the beginning. For me, her life began a t the votive candle counter in a Roman Catholic Church. I’m 5 years old and the lights sparkle as mother supports me...

So Sorry

by Sheila Collins | Aug 3, 2023 | Art & Life, Community, Family, Grieving, Health and Wellness, Our Children, Personal Stories, Resilience, The Art of Grieving

It seems an almost universal response. The person is asked about something negative that has happened, “how is your mother doing?” or “what do you remember about the accident?” or “Was she your only sister?” Next, as the person begins to talk about the situation,...

Wisdom and a New Film from a Master of the Art of Grieving

by Sheila Collins | Jul 27, 2023 | Environment, Family, Grieving, Health, Health and Wellness, Noteworthy men, Science, Technology and the Environment, Songs, Story-telling, Technology

The Art of Grieving involves processing life’s significant losses to discover the wisdom in them and to use that for our future lives. The arts can be powerful tools in this processing, and often provide ways to share this wisdom with others. I am excited to share...

It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

by Sheila Collins | Jun 29, 2023 | Art & Life, Celebrations, Community, Dances, Family, Gatherings, Health and Wellness, Improvisation, Personal Stories, Play, Story-telling

Last week was the first in person Leaders’ Gathering for the InterPlay organization I have been a member of for over 30 years. Nearly 50 people from across the country, and a few from across the world, (Africa and Australia) met in a conference center in Greensboro...

Dying of a Broken Heart?

by Sheila Collins | Jun 8, 2023 | Family, Grieving, Health, Health and Wellness, Past Events, Personal Stories, Self-Care

“He died of a broken heart.” That’s the way my dad’s family always referred to my grandfather’s death. My dad was only 5 years old at the time, so he had little memory of that year when his dad died in the fall following his mother’s death that had occurred...

Why Pride Parades are Good for Our Communities’ Mental Health

by Sheila Collins | May 31, 2023 | Art & Life, Celebrations, Community, Environment, Family, Gatherings, Grieving, Health and Wellness, History, Our Children, Personal Stories

On a return flight to Pittsburgh earlier this week I listened again to the audio version of my now 10-year-old memoir, Warrior Mother, Fierce Love, Unbearable Loss, and Rituals that Heal. This refreshed my memory of what a struggle my youngest son Ken had with...

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Learn the Many, Magical Ways Art Transforms Grieving!

(No art skills required.)

Loss is inevitable, yet too often we bury our grief, pretending we're OK when we're not.

In my new book (COMING SOON), I'll share some uncommon notions about grief and how the arts, and art-making, have transformative powers that take us to the heart of the matter.

Eulogy for a sister Mary Jane Smith

So Sorry

Wisdom and a New Film from a Master of the Art of Grieving

It’s Not Over Till It’s Over

Dying of a Broken Heart?

Why Pride Parades are Good for Our Communities’ Mental Health

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