Grief Article (Shine)
Grief is a lifelong process and everyone experiences it differently.
How I Kept My Head Above Water While Grieving
by: Cristina Galushko
Published on Shine
October 24th, 2018
Grief is like being lost at sea without a life jacket or rescue boat in sight. It’s as if you’re drowning—constantly trying to stay afloat without knowing how to.
That’s how I felt when I lost my mother to cancer three months ago. Nothing could have prepared me for the wave of emotions that ensued after my mother’s death. Losing her didn’t just hurt—it crushed my soul.
She had a difficult fight with cancer. From her diagnosis to death, I had to watch her go through intensive surgeries, strong medication, and countless hospital visits that eventually led to a hospice stay in our home.
As her daughter, I was proud to see her strength in battling this disease. Yet, I was equally as sad to see her health inevitably diminish over time. When the day came when she could no longer fight and we had to say goodbye, I was shoved into the deep end with no instruction manual on how to survive.
I still have a long way to go in my emotional journey. Grief is a lifelong process and everyone experiences it differently. However, I’ve learned a lot in the first few months since my mother’s death. Especially on how to manage the beginning stages.
If you’ve recently lost someone or know someone that has, these learnings might help you keep your head above water as you cope with the loss. I know they've helped me.
Grief is a lifelong process and everyone experiences it differently.
Feel It, Don’t Fight It
Grief comes in waves. Some days you feel fine. Other days, an influx of painful emotions take over your mind suddenly. Confusion, sadness, and regret overwhelm you.
I felt regret. I replayed memories with my mother throughout my life and wished I would have handled things differently. I was also extremely confused. My selfless, loving, and beautiful mother passed away in my 20s. How could I accept that? There was so much more left to experience together. She deserved more life.
I couldn’t rationalize why this was happening. When I picked up my mother’s ashes and lived through her funeral, everything intensified too.
Dealing with these painful emotions is difficult. Your first instinct may be to avoid and suppress. However, don’t. You may not be able to see an end in sight at first, but let yourself feel every emotion, however difficult it may be. Cry, break down, fall apart. Do it all.
It’s OK to not feel OK.
It’s OK to not have an immediate solution to your pain.
Knowing that you won’t be OK for a while will and does help. In the moment, you might not be aware of this but powering through these painful emotions will help you build strength and resilience within yourself.
Embrace Your Support System
As you mourn, you might feel an outpouring of love and support from family and friends. Sometimes, it might not feel like enough. Because, in the end, it’s hard for anyone to truly understand what you’re going through unless they’ve lived through it themselves.
This doesn’t mean you’re alone, though. Let your family, friends, loved ones, or even a professional you seek out comfort you in the best way they can. You’ll also encounter not-so-genuine experiences from others and that’s OK, too.
Any signs of genuine support, even if it’s a simple gesture, will bring you some relief during this process. Don’t fixate on what others can’t understand. Instead, focus on the loveyou see reflected from those that truly care. Don’t run from it. Embrace it more than ever.
Realize & Appreciate Your Newfound Strength
After my mother died, I found myself taking care of a lot of her funeral and burial arrangements. Looking back now, I had no idea how I was able to manage everything.
Even before she died, being one of her caregivers was second-nature to me. My siblings, father, and I carried the position seriously and never missed a beat in my mother’s care.
This showed me something special. Through these actions, I was able to unveil a newfound strength. Something that my mom had given me: the ability to be strong during difficult life moments. To rise above with courage. The Finnish coin this feeling as sisu, a courageous mindset that embraces challenges; your inner strength.
Knowing that I was strong enough to handle her death gave me a coat of armor to handle life moving forward. If I could survive this, I realized, I could survive anything.
No matter how you handle grief, one thing is universal: It will never end. It’s the price we pay for love. But it will slowly shift over time and become a part of yourself that makes you feel more whole instead of broken.
Read article on Shine.
Event Tagline (NCAA Final Four)
Event tagline for NCAA Final Four.
NCAA Final Four Houston Fan Fest Tagline
Tagline: A family treat you can dunk on.
How Howth Healed Me
Sometimes bad experiences come at once or all together, multiplied together with no regard. In my case, my mother’s cancer worsened, I was out of a job, and my house was robbed, all in the span of three months. My internal compass shattered. I desperately sought my next phase in life, running in never-ending circles. Should I take this job? Should I take this class? Should I get back into Pilates?! Should I, Should I, barf.
I couldn’t commit to anything but, one day, an ad for Aer Lingus popped up on my Facebook feed, a roundtrip flight to Dublin from Houston. I bought a ticket without thought. My husband couldn’t go but (luckily) my friend could join me and, two weeks later, we embarked on our Celtic journey, that eventually led me to Howth.
With glimpses of Halloween throughout, from the stacked pumpkins outside pubs and gothic architecture at Trinity College, I felt October in the flesh.
Cheery Dublin
It was October and Dublin was starting to get crisp for winter. We had just missed a warm week, apparently, and everyone was busting out the mittens, jackets, and boots. Coming from a city with no real fall, this felt like the real deal. The trees were golden brown and red. With glimpses of Halloween throughout, from the stacked pumpkins outside pubs and gothic architecture at Trinity College, I felt October in the flesh.
We did all the things you’re supposed to do in Dublin:
Visit the Guinness Factory
See the Book of Kells
Shop on Grafton Street
Go to Johnnie Fox’s for River Dancing
I was even called on stage to dance at Johnnie Foxes and was slightly mortified. But what really stole my heart was outside Dublin. A fishing village 30 minutes from the city, Howth was out of a dream.
We walked along the port in Howth, getting closer and closer to the sound of live music playing at the end, right before land met sea. It was the middle of the day and the sun was hidden, as per usual. The wind was strong and the clouds grey, a setting I eventually grew fond of. We stopped and sat on cement steps, overlooking a lighthouse and countless sailboats. An Irish guitarist sang Neil Young, his charming voice overshadowing the noise of nearby seagulls gawking.
Read more here.
Local Hospital Opens Another Shitty Food Court
Discover how to make the most of your loft space by creating a second floor that doesn’t make you feel like a giant.
Local Hospital, Last Resort Methodist, has opened its second food court in an effort to get more patients into the hospital.
“The first food court didn’t have enough disease in their food. This time, with options like McFryBird and Lard Cow, we’re guaranteed to make our patients and their families so sick with grease and inhumane preservatives they’ll be screaming to get admitted,” said hospital President Thomas Clayton.
After a tedious trial of negotiating with vendors, chains such as Holy Lettuce and Health Haven were instantly denied because they only offered, according to Clayton, “food for pussies."
“Look, I’m running a business here. We don’t need whole grains or fresh fruits. We need fat, oil, and occasional MSG.”
Clayton was also able to confirm a loyalty program that offered patients a free McFryBird, equipped with their famous dry lifeless chicken patties, after their second hospital stay.
“This loyalty program is doing wonders for me,” said loyal patient Bertha Davis, “After open heart surgery and kidney failure, getting that McFryBird was just the validation I needed.”
Chairs for the Foyer
For the “no shoes” households: give your foyer a lush look with potted trees and antique wooden chairs.
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For the “no shoes” households: give your foyer a lush look with potted trees and antique wooden chairs.
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Curabitur blandit porttitor
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Evolved Daybed
Sometimes you want a living room that can double as a guest room. The daybed is a great couch solution that’s easy to convert.
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Sometimes you want a living room that doubles as a guest room. The daybed is a great solution that’s easy to convert.
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Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Donec sed odio dui. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
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The Absurdist Plays of Hank Monroe
Hank Monroe is one of my favorite playwrights. It would certainly be a dream to build a set to his magnum opus, “Fire Lily.”
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Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus.
Hank Monroe is one of my favorite playwrights. It would certainly be a dream to build a set to his magnum opus, “Fire Lily.”
Tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.
Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna.
Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum.
- Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum.
- Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum.
- Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod.
- Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna.
- Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum.
- Donec sed odio dui. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius.
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Donec sed odio dui. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec sed odio dui.
Don’t Be Afraid of Painting it Teal
Give an accent wall some more personality by painting a thrift store find the same color. Cool jewelry can double as decoration.
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Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.
Give an accent wall some more personality by painting a thrift store find the same color. Cool jewelry can double as decoration.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur.
Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum.
Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros
Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Donec sed odio dui. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet.
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis.
Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Donec sed odio dui. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec sed odio dui.
Luxury Deck Furniture
When it comes to the outdoors, it’s wise to invest in furniture that can stand up to the elements. Here are some recommendations.
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When it comes to the outdoors, it’s wise to invest in furniture that can stand up to the elements. Here are some recommendations.
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Cum sociis nato4que penatibus
Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Donec sed odio dui. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis.
Etiam porta malesuada magna
Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Cras justo odio, dapibus ac facilisis in, egestas eget quam. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Donec ullamcorper nulla non metus auctor fringilla.
Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Donec id elit non mi porta gravida at eget metus. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Nullam quis risus eget urna mollis ornare vel eu leo. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit.
Curabitur blandit tempus porttitor. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis.
Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Donec sed odio dui. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Cras mattis consectetur purus sit amet fermentum. Aenean eu leo quam. Pellentesque ornare sem lacinia quam venenatis vestibulum. Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros.
Maecenas faucibus mollis interdum. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Donec sed odio dui.
Social Media Posts
A collection of social media posts from clients over the years.
A group of social media posts accumulated over four years of experience writing and strategizing for social media.
Client: SONIC Drive-In.
Client: Genghis Grill.
Client: NCAA Final Four.
Client: SONIC Drive-In.
Client: Elaine Turner.
Client: Houston Super Bowl Host Committee.
Client: Elaine Turner.