Cara Hope Clark

I have been taking a much needed break from writing after publishing my second award-winning book, The Transformational Nature of Grief. Despite that, I wanted to keep up with my yearly tradition of writing a post on April 19^th, marking the anniversary of my beloved husband Claude’s passing.

When I think about our lives since that fateful day, I’m truly in awe. Both Noah and I have grown and evolved in ways that we could never have imagined in our world without Claude.

When I sat down to write I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. But then it came to me.

I’m dedicating this to my past self, the one who found herself unexpectedly taken captive by grief. The one who had no idea how she would keep moving forward living in her new reality. The one whose heart was shattered and felt at that time it was beyond repair. The one who wasn’t sure who she was anymore without her other half. The one who was now a suicide survivor. The list goes on…

To my past self:

I want you to know

You will learn how to breathe again.

You will smile, laugh and feel joy again.

You will feel whole one day and so will Noah.

You will learn how to make your way through this.

You will find meaning and purpose again in your life.

You will have greater perspective on why this happened.

You will become the woman who you were destined to be.

Always remember

You are still loved.

You are not alone.

You are so much more than your grief.

You are still alive and still have purpose.

You can always count on your soul’s inner wisdom.

These are just a few things that I would tell her and really anyone who finds themselves newly carrying the weight of grief. When we first lose our loved one these things seem utterly impossible. Still, I can tell you that they are all possible and much more. It takes time and a commitment to keep moving forward as best as we can. One small baby step at a time until we are ready to take those larger steps.

Grief can feel isolating. One important step is to reach out for support. I wouldn’t want to forget all of those who have supported my own journey over these many years. I couldn’t have done this alone. I am truly grateful!

Moving into year 13, my soul is calling me to slow way down, learning to live in more of a flow state. I am reengaging with my art practice and exploring that channel of creativity. I may do a little writing here and there; I’m not sure. Learning to listen even more deeply to my inner guidance is my priority. Oh and let’s not forget, doing things that bring me joy is a must! So we’ll see how it all unfolds.

If you are walking with grief, my heart goes out to you. I want you to know that you are not alone. I have written my two books to support you in creating your own personal journey through grief. Check out these links for more info and to order your copies for yourself or a loved one in need.

https://carahopeclark.com/widows-moon-book/

https://carahopeclark.com/transformational-nature-of-grief/

With love and blessings,

Cara Hope