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Volunteer from your desk (or phone)!

February 5, 2019 by Cara Leave a Comment

We need your help! February 28-March 1 is Amplify Austin, a citywide day of online giving that raises support and awareness for Austin-area nonprofits. This year our goal is to raise $40,000 in 24 hours, which would support the cost of providing grief support services for 80 adults for an entire year!

To reach this goal, we’re looking for #TeamZebra ambassadors! It’s an easy way to give back and pay it forward at The Christi Center. We’ll set up an online page for you to add your personal story of your connection to our mission. On Amplify Day (and the weeks leading up to it), just share your page with family and friends via email and social media and ask them to consider making a gift to your page. Your campaign can be as small or large as you like, and you can also promote your page earlier and encourage folks to schedule donations in advance. Some of our Christi Center friends run campaigns in memory of loved ones, and this is a lovely way to honor them.

We need at least 30 ambassadors to help us meet our fundraising goal. Will you be one of them? Sign up today by emailing shannon@christicenter.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I don’t like asking people for money. Why should I do this?

A: There are two reasons. Word of mouth is the #1 way people learn about The Christi Center. The more you talk about it, the more likely it is that people who need us will hear about us. Everyone experiences grief, and this is a great way for you to increase awareness in your circles about The Christi Center’s services. The second reason is that the only way we’re able to keep our services free to everyone who needs them is through fundraising. This is not JUST asking for money. It’s sharing your personal story to help someone walking the grief journey behind you.

Q: How much do I have to raise?

A: Totally up to you! Our Christi Center collective goal is $40,000 – your campaign goal can be as small as $250 and as big as you like!

Q: What am I asking for money for?

A: The Christi Center uses all funds raised to provide free, ongoing grief support groups for children and adults who are adjusting to life after the death of a loved one. If you’ve come to groups at the Center, this is a great way for you to pay it forward to those traveling the grief journey behind you and keep our services free of charge to all who need them!

Q: So what all is involved with this?

A: We keep it as simple as possible. We’ll help you set up an online fundraising page and send you the link. You can spread the word about your campaign in several ways:

Send an email with the link to your page to friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. letting them know why The Christi Center is important to you and asking them to make a gift. Some people ask for gifts in memory of their loves ones and that is a great way to honor your loved one’s memory.
Share the link to your page on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – wherever you are and feel comfortable! In addition to your story, you can share facts and information on The Christi Center (we’ll send you this info throughout the campaign).

Q: I’m going to be out of town/busy on these dates, can I still participate?

A: YES! The beauty of this e-campaign is that you can do it from anywhere that you have your phone or laptop! You can also ask people to schedule donations in advance – so if you’d rather run the campaign earlier, you can do that as well. The Amplify site is already accepting scheduled donations! If you’d rather do another date altogether (like your birthday or your loved one’s Angel Day), then we can help you set that up, too. Contact shannon@christicenter.org

Q: Got it. I’m social-media savvy and I’m ready to take my campaign to the next level. Where can I get ideas/inspiration?

A: Our #TeamZebra kickoff event is February 20th from 6:30 to 8 pm at The Christi Center, and you’ll have a chance to connect with other ambassadors and get inspiration from each other. Also, I Live Here I Give Here (the lead organization in this city-wide day of giving) is an AMAZING resource – they offer toolkits, trainings and more. Contact us and we’ll send you direct links to all this information.

Q: You missed something or I did – I still don’t get it.

A: We’re here for you! Email shannon@christicenter.org or call us at 512-467-2600 and we’ll walk you through it all. Thanks so much for supporting grieving families and The Christi Center in this way – we’re grateful for you.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Summer (Grief) Reading List for Kids + Teens

June 14, 2018 by Lara Leave a Comment

School is out, days are long–which means more time for reading. Whether it’s planning for relaxing days on the beach, at Barton Springs Pool, or inside soaking up some cool A/C, we are often looking for a good read in the summer. If your mind is occupied with grief matters, perhaps reading a grief tale will help you find connections and a different perspective. A couple of summers ago, we compiled a list for adult readers, but this summer, we asked our staff for their recommendations for grief reading for kids and teens:

For Kids

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children, by Bryan Mellonie. The crux of the book explains in a beautiful way about beginnings, ending, and living in between!

Not the End: A Child’s Journey Through Grief, by Mari Dombkowski. This book is special to me because the local author came and read the book to our Kids Who Kare group a couple of years ago, and recently stopped by to give us a few copies of her latest Spanish version of the book. Based on a true story, this book describes a family’s journey through loss, providing insight and hope to the fact that as painful as loss can be, it is not the end of a family’s story, but rather, a very important chapter.

The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst. My all-time favorite, this bestseller is touching and comforting for all ages, because it describes the heart-to-heart connection that we never lose even when people become separated or when they die….the binding connection of love.

– Christi Neville, LPC – Peer Support Coordinator

My go to for bibliotherapy with children who have experienced trauma (including traumatic loss) is A Terrible Thing Happened, by Margaret M Holmes. A children’s book that tells the story of Sherman, who had a terrible thing happen to him; it addresses themes of physical and emotional symptoms of trauma and working with helping professionals to feel better.

-Jessica W. Brown, M.A., Program Coordinator

For Young Adults

My current favorite book is, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sanchez

This book follows a young Mexican-American girl named Julia, who is searching for meaning after her older sister’s death. The story shows the struggles with that a family can have after their family is impacted by losing a loved one.

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares

SPOILER ALERT: Part of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, this book is about the bonds of young sisterhood changing as the characters become adults. Dealing with careers boyfriends, marriage, moves, the young women of this novel must navigate those challenges while also learning to navigate the sudden loss of a friend.

Everything We Keep: A Novel (Book 1 of 3) by Kerry Lonsdale

Everything We Keep is about a young woman named Aimee who has the perfect life: marrying her childhood sweetheart, perfect parents, and her dream job. But when her fiance vanishes after a trip, Aimee is left broken and has to put herself back together while also trying to keep her life afloat. Definitely a beach/park read.

– Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LMSW – Bilingual Support Coordinator

My favorite book about grief and death is young adult fantasy trilogy: The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix.

Couched within an action-packed, fantasy setting, a teenage girl learns that her father, The Abhorsen, keeper of the dead, is missing and has passed into death. The series explores themes of loss, grief, and how we mourn our loved ones, as life continues around us. The protagonists in the series are all teenagers, and struggle with identity, fitting in and growing up. I appreciate this series for addressing a young adult audience and it’s non-stigmatizing approach to death and loss.

-Jessica W. Brown, M.A., Program Coordinator

Editor’s Note: We’ve linked Amazon here for ease and completeness of information about the books on our recommendation list, but also encourage kids and parents to check out your local library or independent book store. The City of Austin has a summer reading program for kids, 5 Book Dive, and children who complete 5 books over the summer can earn $5 credit at BookPeople.

Filed Under: Blog, Loss of a Friend, loss of a loved one to suicide, loss of a parent, loss of a sibling, Uncategorized Tagged With: books, children, kids, kids and grief, reading, recommended books, recommended reading, Teens

Loss and Grief in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey

September 6, 2017 by Lara Leave a Comment

by Jessica W. Brown

On Friday, August 26, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall at Rockport, Texas and has devastated the Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. 53 Texas counties have been impacted, with a total population of over 11 million Texans affected. That is 46% of the population of Texas. This is an unprecedented disaster, a crisis that will ripple through our communities for decades. Our hearts at The Christi Center go out to everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey, now and in the upcoming months, as our communities rebuild and recover.

household belongings being removed from damaged house

Volunteers assist with cleanup at Aransas Pass, TX. photo by Jessica W. Brown

Arriving at the site of a natural disaster is a unique experience, whether you are returning after your life has been irrevocably altered by Mother Nature, or you are there to assist folks whose lives have been rocked by the elements. There is apprehension of what you are about to see, there is the gut-punch shock at the devastation, there is grief and sadness. When I drove into Aransas Pass, TX, this past weekend, to volunteer with the clean-up and donation efforts, I experienced all of those emotions and more. However, in the wake of a disaster, what struck me, as it has before, was the overwhelming indomitable human spirit of hope.

Connection in the face of loss, whether that loss is a loved one from death (as is our focus at The Christi Center) or the loss of one’s home, job, safety and sense of security in the wake of a natural disaster – that is the face of hope. It is how we rebuild ourselves and our communities. I will never forget the people who assisted me and my family in the wake of the Bastrop Fires over Labor Day in 2011, and one of the greatest gifts that was offered during that time of personal crisis and confusion was connection with others.

There are many commonalities between the grief journey from the loss of a loved one and the grief journey after a disaster. Most people will experience denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Sometimes these emotions will overlap, sometimes they stand alone and they often come in waves. One can cycle from anger at the unfairness of the loss, to acceptance, to depression and back to anger. This is normal and healthy in the face of tragedy, whatever that tragedy might be.

However, crisis and disasters do have unique characteristics to be aware of. A crisis has the following features: it hits suddenly and without warning, in a way that threatens our security and has unpredictable consequences. A disaster is a crisis of a natural or human made hazard that negatively effects society or environment. The emotional responses to going through a disaster can involve: intense or unpredictable feelings, changes to thoughts and behavior patterns, sensitivity to environmental factors (such as loud noises or bright lights), strained relationships, and stress-related physical symptoms. These symptoms can be particularly acute in the sudden aftermath of a disaster, when one is still in shock.

There are certain characteristics of resilient survivors. The following traits, though not cure-alls for the shock and grief at the tremendous loss, are indicative of someone who will weather the storm after a crisis:

Survivors have a support network that instills hope and can talk about their experience and feelings.
They understand and accept the magnitude and scope of what they have lost and realistically assess and approach the possible solutions.
They learn to forgive themselves for their choices and for surviving. They do not blame themselves or others.
They can talk about their experiences and feelings
They can ask for and accept help.
They find ways to participate after the loss.

Yet, the loss can be big. It can feel too big and crisis, by definition, threatens our security. After the shock wears off, the grief can be overwhelming and the trauma of the disaster may rise up. Trauma is either “too much too fast” or “too much for too long” and can impact one’s emotional well-being for years after the traumatic event. If you or someone you know is experiencing the following emotional concerns, please seek help.

Feeling nervous, helpless, fearful, sad
Feeling shocked, numb, and not able to feel love or joy
Avoiding people, places, and things related to the event
Being irritable or having outbursts of anger
Becoming easily upset or agitated
Blaming yourself or having negative views of oneself or the world
Distrust of others, getting into conflicts, being over-controlling
Being withdrawn, feeling rejected, or abandoned
Loss of intimacy or feeling detached

We at The Christi Center honor the strength and resilience of everyone who has been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. If you or someone you know is emotionally impacted by Harvey please reach out to the following resources in the Austin community.

References:

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/problems/common-reactions-after-trauma.asp

https://www.extension.umn.edu/family/disaster-recovery/coping-with-stress/coping-with-loss/

https://www.fema.gov/coping-disaster

http://www.resilience.org/stories/2011-03-17/psychology-disaster/

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx

Jessica W. Brown is currently finishing her final semester at St. Edward’s University’s Masters in Counseling program with a focus on children and crisis, grief and loss, and trauma counseling. A personal survivor of the Bastrop 2011 fires and a long time safety volunteer for a local organization, she strives to be of service. Jessica joined The Christi Center in March of this year as our Program Coordinator and looks forward to assisting The Christi Center in our mission. See Jessica talking about the grief effects of natural disasters here

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized Tagged With: grief, loss, resiliency, resources, trauma

Volunteer Spotlight: Alice Choate

June 23, 2015 by Lara Leave a Comment

by Alice Choate

How did you initially become involved with The Christi Center?
After my husband John died. I lived in Westlake, and knew about Christi, and somebody told me about what Susan and Don had started. So, I went to the first location, over on 360. This was in 1993—a long time ago!

How has your role/involvement evolved?
Well, I sort of did a lot in the beginning, at least a year or so, I went to meetings, and got to know Susan, and ended up hanging around the office. I actually tried to write a little grant. Susan and Don were just amazingly supportive—so I was just there. I guess when I got a regular job, I moved on. In the meantime, I maintained a friendship with Susan and Don. And then when I retired, I wanted to volunteer here.

What is a stand-out moment that you were a part of while volunteering at The Christi Center?
It’s whenever I have the opportunity to tell people about the Center. Like, I brought my friend here after her husband died—and it felt so good to bring her here. She was in rough shape. Now, at this stage, it seems like everyone knows about it or knows somebody who has been here. When I come here as a volunteer, I often do small jobs, but it’s the ability to affect people by telling them about this resource. I’m still incredulous what Susan and Don have been able to achieve—it’s such a gift to the city of Austin.

What do you think is the most important way to help a friend who is grieving?
Be there and listen.

I always tell them about the Christi Center. Talk about their loved one. I love it more than anything, even 20 years on, to talk about John. I hate it that my family even often doesn’t mention him.

I remember after John died—you know he had such an incredible journey—he was so goal oriented, loved golf—he wanted to really live until he died. After he died, this young man called me out of the blue and said, “I’m just so sorry John died” and then launched into a story about him, a really funny story, and it just meant the world to me. People just don’t do that often.

What is your favorite quote?
“Expect a miracle, and make it happen”—this was a favorite quote of John’s—it was so John. Expect something really good to happen, and then do what you can do to get it.

About the author:

Alice Choate is a mom and grandmother, and retired from the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in 2013. She volunteers with The Christi Center weekly, and also volunteers with Ten Thousand Villages, as well as helping to care for her grandchildren.

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized, volunteer Spotlight

The “Before and After” You

June 4, 2015 by Lara Leave a Comment

by Erin Spalding

In one of the groups that I was facilitating recently, a topic came up that provided me with new insight into my own grief journey. I want to thank that group (you know who you are) and hope the conversation was healing to them as well.

All of us who have lost someone significant in our lives know that the experience changes us. It not only changes pieces of our world, it also transforms who we are as individuals. Our hope is that we will grow through these struggles, but regardless we cannot go through them without becoming new people. Often the focus in grief work is about how to manage the changes affecting your current relationships. What do you do when your friends, family and co-workers do not know how to relate to your grief? This is one reason we are so committed to peer support at The Christi Center – we connect you with people who get grief.

However, what about the new people who you meet after your loss. Do you tell them your dad died when you were nine and your mom had a stroke when you were 17 and if so, when? We all know the uncomfortable stares and the quick changes of subject that often follow such a declaration. Though, if you don’t share that part of yourself, these new people in your life are not able to know the whole you. You are the “before and after” you not one or the other. What happens when you finally open yourself up, expecting it to bring you closer to that person, and they just don’t get it? Or, you share something about your loss with a friend or partner and realize that relationship did not merit that trust?

I had many childhood friends who knew my mom before her stroke and tried to support me in the early years of her being in a nursing home. Very few understood how much this loss had changed me. When in my late teens and early twenties, I made many new friends that did not know that piece of my story. This left me with many “before” and “after” friends. I still have some of these friends, but the close friends in my life now are those that I have allowed to see both sides of myself and are open to understanding the journey that made me who I am today.

About the Author

Erin Spalding, LCSW, has been the Program Director of The Christi Center since 2008. She graduated from the University of Texas with her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters of Social Work. Her passion for grief work stems from her own grief journey. She lost her dad to a heart attack when she was nine years old. She then lost the mom that she knew when she was 17 when her mother had stroke and remained disabled in a nursing home for the next 16 years. These life challenges and the strength she has discovered because of them is why she has dedicated herself to working with grieving children, teens and adults who are faced with life-altering loss. She feels joy every day that she can offer hope and healing to those in grief.

Filed Under: Blog, Uncategorized

2nd Annual Art Show

April 23, 2015 by Lara Leave a Comment

2nd Annual Art Show: HeARTstrings

In telling our stories –of our love, and of our loss–we can make sense of our pain. There are many ways to express all those multitude of emotions, and creative arts is one.

The Christi Center utilizes some visual art exercises with our Kids Who Kare groups, in the Teen group, in our groups in Austin ISD schools, and as a 2nd Stage Monday theme. As one of our programs last year, we invited those who created art as part of their grief journey to invite friends and family to view these works at The Christi Center.

This year’s Show was especially special, because a young high school student, Finn Lowden, organized the show as a volunteer project. Finn met with Christi Center staff last summer to discuss taking on a project, and towards the end of his tour at the Center, listened to Program Director Erin Spalding describe some of the emotions and motivations of the teen art she has displayed in her office. Finn, also a teen, was drawn to the art, and when we told him about the art show in 2014, decided he wanted to make a second Art Show his project–and to help this become an annual event.

On April 12th, The Christi Center presented our 2nd Annual Art Show.

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Filed Under: art, Blog, Uncategorized, volunteer Spotlight Tagged With: art show, children, Kids who Kare, School Groups, Teens

Join the Party! –The Purple Zebra Party

February 18, 2015 by Lara Leave a Comment

Let’s turn up the volume and let the Austin-area know about the free, peer-based and ongoing services The Christi Center provides to Central Texas after loss during Amplify Austin!

Don your Zebra Stripes, get your best friends, and

When: March 5th, 6-9 pm

Where: The Christi Center, 2306 Hancock Dr, Austin TX 78756

Music by: local Austin band, Constellation Prize!

Food by: Travaasa Food Truck!

Drinks by: Steve’s Wines and Circle Brewing

RSVP: here

Bring a Friend (or many friends!)

This is a great, easy, free and fun way to introduce The Christi Center to your circle of support!

Purple Zebra Party?

Not sure why we call it the “Purple Zebra Party”?

Our Founders, Susan & Don, like to say, “Being in grief is like being a zebra in a pack of horses. The horses don’t notice your stripes, but you know you’re different. And, sometimes, you just need to be with other zebras.”

Purple was their daughter Christi’s favorite color, and it’s a color we use for our logo, our furniture–we even wear a lot of purple around here. So really, we’re a bunch of purple zebras.

Can’t attend, but want to support The Christi Center?

You can schedule a gift to support The Christi Center, and remember a loved one or honor someone you love with your gift! Schedule your donation today, (you won’t be charged until Amplify Austin Day, March 5-6th).

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Pieces of a Beautiful Mosaic

May 19, 2014 by Lara 1 Comment

by Janet Brown

This is a photo of me and my grandson, Jacob. His dad Joshua passed away when he was only 6 years old. Joshua was my only child. He was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer on October 12, 1998 and battled for two years. He died on October 4, 2000 at the age of 27. My world suddenly stopped.

Joshua will always be missing in the rest of our photos.

I think I knew I needed help with my grief process but I didn’t have any idea where to go. After eight long years of silent suffering and medications, my doctor suggested I go to Hospice Austin and talk with a therapist. I was eligible for six free sessions, since Joshua used their services when he was ill. After pouring out my broken heart in these sessions my therapist suggested I go to The Christi Center for additional help with my healing. I thought to myself, “What??!! I’m not well yet?” I just wanted to feel better. I wanted a magic pill to make all the pain go away.

I took her advice her advice and started attending the moms’ Monday group meetings. Going to my first meeting was the hardest and scariest decision I ever made. I remember years ago seeing Susan Cox on TV being interview about “For the Love of Christi “. I thought, “Oh how sad for those poor moms.” And years later, here I am.

With the love from The Christi Center I have come a long way in my grief journey. During my first few meetings I didn’t say anything. Just listened to the other moms tell their stories. There was no judgment or expectations. I learned I wasn’t alone in my grief. Wow! That was a revelation.

The most important thing I learned is that my grief is a life long journey. First minute by minute, then hour by hour, then day by day, then year by year. So I am evolving in my understanding of my grief and also trying to give hope to those new moms in grief.

Another way that has helped in my healing is to volunteer at The Christi Center. It lets me be a part of something bigger than myself. My stand out moment while volunteering was the fact that I wanted to volunteer. After experiencing what an awesome organization The Christi Center is and how many people they have helped, who wouldn’t want to volunteer? If I may quote a friend, Mary Graf, another volunteer: “We are all just small pieces of a beautiful mosaic.”

I think the best way to help a friend who is grieving is to first bring them to the Christi Center. I wish someone would have invited me years earlier than I went. Also be a good listener and don’t give advice on how they should be feeling. Be ready for your friend not to be themself. Just be there for them.

Filed Under: bereavement, Blog, depression, grieving, loss of a child, Uncategorized, Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteering: To honor a loved one

April 7, 2014 by Lara Leave a Comment

by Barbara FitzPatrick

2008 was a wonderful year and one of the saddest for me. It was the year I got married and the year my brother died, with just 7 months in between events that sent me through the spectrum of emotion. I’ll never forget where I was the moment I got the call from my mom, or the week that followed. So many tasks to manage and the grief was exhausting. No one talks about how exhausting grief can be.

When my brother died, I promised to live my life for the both of us. So when the opportunity to move overseas came about I saw it as the perfect adventure we talked of going on someday. I was living in a new country just 5 months after his death. The rawness subsided but I didn’t know how to talk about his death to people I just met. So I didn’t, and instead I doubled up on work and trying to build a group of friends. But there was a hole in my heart. I needed to talk about my brother and I didn’t know how to start. There was no assistance for grief in my new country and I was lost. Thank goodness for Skype, family, and online resources! I was able to talk about my brother, cry, laugh, be angry, and I became comfortable talking about his life to my new friends. It was a s-l-o-w process, and certainly didn’t happen overnight. Sadly, one of my new companions lost her father and I was all too familiar with the experiences she was going through. I reached out to her, shared my story, and together we talked about the loved ones we lost. Having that support, comforting another during in her grief, these steps helped me immensely. And I learned that giving back can be healing in its own way.

Fast forward 5 years, I moved back to Austin and continued volunteering through various organizations to experience that comfort and joy of giving back to others in need. When I heard of The Christi Center, I remember thinking, ‘If only I had such a place when I needed it most!’ I thought that by volunteering I could continue to honor the loss of my brother and support those who are going through their hardest times in grief. For this, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a warm, compassionate group of individuals at the center.

About the Author: Barbara FitzPatrick volunteers as a Healing Heart Ambassador at The Christi Center through their partnership with the Junior League of Austin. In addition to volunteering with The Christi Center, she has served local organizations GenAustin and Zilker Theatre Productions. Barbara is also employed as a Vice President at Gerson Lehrman Group, a research services firm. She lives in Austin with her husband and their son, Arthur (11 months).

Filed Under: Blog, death, grieving, loss, loss of a sibling, mourn, mourning, Uncategorized, volunteering Tagged With: loss of a brother, peer support, volunteering

For Good

March 25, 2014 by Lara Leave a Comment

by The Christi Center’s Program Director, Erin Spalding

Last month I was able to do a presentation on grief and working with grieving children to the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, a professional organization of female educators in Texas. It was a fantastic opportunity to meet with women who have a passion for education and who recognize that grief can get in the way of the educational cycle – the teachers’ ability to teach, parents’ ability to parent and kids’ ability to learn.

This year their theme was the Wizard of Oz and my presentation was titled Am I a Good Witch or a Bad Witch? Now, some may wonder where this title came from. Well, when you are grieving….do you really know who you are? Who do other people think you are? What about the kids in the classroom? How many of them have been labeled disruptive, inattentive, or even aggressive –when really the symptoms they were showing were tied to the grief that they were not able to fully express at home. This is particularly true if the parents at home are grieving too. I thought the title was all too fitting.

Another piece of the presentation that fit extremely well with The Christi Center was a musical introduction. Now, I have seen the play Wicked and my friend has played the soundtrack for me at length, but I never connected how fitting this song was for us in the past. The song “For Good” is talking about the possible end to the turbulent friendship of the two main characters, Glinda and Elphaba. However, the lyrics clearly speak to the end of other relationships – both good and bad. The people in our lives, whether with us for a moment or a lifetime change us. I will be forever grateful for parents even if they were not with me in this life for very long. I also hope that I can always remember to be grateful for those in my life now. I appreciate what they bring to me today.

“For Good” Lyrics

I’m limited
Just look at me – I’m limited
And just look at you
You can do all I couldn’t do, Glinda
So now it’s up to you
For both of us – now it’s up to you…

I’ve heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true
But I know I’m who I am today
Because I knew you…

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You’ll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend…

Like a ship blown from it’s mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

Because I knew you

I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I’ve done you blame me for

But then, I guess we know
There’s blame to share

And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from it’s mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

Who can say if I’ve been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

And because I knew you…

Because I knew you…

Because I knew you…
I have been changed for good…

Filed Under: art, Blog, death, depression, grieving, loss, mourn, music therapy, Uncategorized Tagged With: children, kids, music, school, teacher, Wicked, witch