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melaniespickett@gmail.com

Encouragement, Life Is Beautiful

The Soundtrack of My Soul

Remember your first love? The summer after graduation? A special college get-together? Your wedding? An epic road trip? I’d bet that for every one of these occasions and dozens more, you have a song that, when you hear it, takes you right back to that moment in your history. It evokes a memory and a feeling and maybe a person. Sometimes it’s a welcome memory, sometimes something you’d rather forget, and sometimes it provokes a good cry. Every time Rick Springfield comes on the radio or TV or pops up in social media, I immediately think of Jen, my best friend, and comrade in all things Rick. We’ve been “Rick’s biggest fans” since sixth grade. His music is good and he’s played in the background of our lives for the past thirty years. Continue Reading

Encouragement, Health

How to Help Your Children Cope with Grief

Grief is a challenging, confusing struggle. As adults we wrestle with it, so how much tougher must it be for children? Last week, I wrote about grief over at Defying Shadows. It occurred to me later how differently we face things as adults than children do and that I’d be remiss if I didn’t share what I know about grief and children.  

Children aren’t just “little adults.” In fact, the way they function and process are quite different than how we operate as adults.  When my children lost their father, we were all reeling from the shock and grief. I had lost both my parents by then and was no stranger to grief, but I was very much a stranger to dealing with significant loss as a child. I learned a lot from my children during this process just as I learned a lot about them. That support was absolutely vital to their healing and mine. Continue Reading

Encouragement, Life Is Beautiful

Loss of a Friend: Going Back and Going Forward

I’ve lost a friend. Four days ago I received news that one of my closest friends since childhood had left this life. My reaction surprised even myself. I gasped and my hands flew up to my face, covering it as if to shut out the information I’d just learned and somehow make it untrue.

I wanted to write. That’s what we writers often do when we’re struggling with something: we make sense of it on paper. It’s our therapy. But words didn’t come.

Lisa was a writer. This was a fact that had bonded us at an early age. We’d compare thoughts, poems, and stories. She was the only person I knew who loved writing as much as I did. “The moon is keen and I like green” was one of the most memorable stanzas from an early poem she had written. Continue Reading

Giveaways

It’s a Great Day for a Giveaway!

Baby, it’s cold outside! Winter has us boxed in and if you’re like me, your thoughts have already moved to sunshine, flip-flops, and sipping iced tea on your back deck. I want to give you something to brighten your day and to look forward to so I’m partnering with P3 Personalized Jewelry to offer you a giveaway! Entry for this gorgeous necklace is easy! Visit the post on my Facebook page here: Melanie Pickett for instructions on how to enter. You don’t want to miss out on this beautiful gift! Continue Reading