Living | Erin Joy Henry

losing my mom

8/14/18

My mom lost her balance in a golf tournament in late June. Six weeks later Glioblastoma Multiforme took her life. I had no idea brain cancer, or any other kind of cancer could move so quickly. Losing my mom has been the most difficult time of my life.

I’ve learned quickly that nobody has the right words, except a few friends that have weathered a similar storm themselves. My mom was always here with me in the background and now she’s not. It’s like a cord has been cut and all of a sudden I’m here on earth without my oxygen tank, my support, my nurturer. As time goes by I know I will feel differently, maybe the pain will change or go away. Maybe I will be able to smile more and not feel this ache in my belly. Life will never be the same but I know at some point I will feel joy again.

Because I have no experience with grief I have turned to friends for advice. So far a few trusted friends have told me to visit refuge in grief. I plan to do their grief writing course and have already found some small comfort in their support community.

I hope one day to be able to offer more to those also facing a similar tragedy but for now this is my recommendation if you also find yourself losing someone you love.

Sending love and peace.

13 Things I learned for sure in 2017

1/19/18

2017 went by like a blink in my house, but maybe that is because I was following a one and three year old around with a vacuum cleaner like Groundhog Day for about 365 days straight. One of the worst days of my year was when we ALL had the flu at the same time and my husband was conveniently out of town. They say children will make you work through all the issues you thought you already worked through and I can say that is true and then some in my case. Children have this unique ability to make us act our best and our worst, sometimes simultaneously. 2017 was a year my husband and I decided if we were to thrive, not just survive the years with our young children that we love “to Pluto and back” as my now four year old says, that we must polish off our old tools and add some new ones to our spiritual toolboxes of sorts. It was time to move like a team like we never have before and redefine our life goals, values and expectations as a family, opposed to the outdated and individual roadmaps of living we were using to navigate life.

I’m nowhere close to having it all figured out, but I”m moving more confidently towards a life of more joy, fulfillment and love. Maybe you will find some value in some of the things I’ve found to be true in 2017. Happy New Year! [Read more…]

3 things to tell your best friend today

6/27/17

This weekend I attended an incredible workshop in the Self Mastery for Women series facilitated by Carolyn Freyer- Jones in Los Angeles.

Our topic was on Women and Friendship and it was surprising( and not shocking) that the attendance was smaller than normal. You see, every woman acknowledges we need to make more time for friendships but as life happens, husbands come along and then children, friendships get pushed to the side. They start to take WORK to maintain. But here’s the thing: our friends are the family we choose. They should be our biggest supporters, our shoulders to cry on and our cheerleaders to run with. I walked away with a new intention to put some love into friendships I”ve neglected and say some things to other friends I’ve just never said, and they need to hear.

Here are three things I plan to tell my best friends:

I miss you
I love you
When can I see you?

How easy is that? It is work, but I’ve rarely met a happy woman who made it through life’s ups and downs without her tribe of ladies standing by her side. If there’s a friend you’re missing, I challenge you to call her today and tell her how much you care. You will be so glad you did.

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