Perhaps you’ve seen little glimpses in your newsfeed?
Seen #oncomingalive and thought, “Hmm. Wonder what that is all about?”
Maybe you relate? You can’t believe it, and it’s certainly in spite of the enormous loss(es) you’ve suffered, but you relate–you feel like pieces of you are coming alive again?
You may not be sure how…and you may not even want it to be happening.
It may feel like a betrayal of your love…your loss. How can you be alive when he or she is not?
And yet?
There’s something inspiring. Something to grab onto. Something you can relate to where ever you are…in the fresh days of new grief or years out, with people wondering why you still can’t just let it go…
One of the On Coming Alive Project contributors, Emily Garibaldi, lost her 22-month-old daughter Lucy to leukemia. Says Emily, “Our surviving is never easy. We cry daily. We sleep with her blankets and live in a shrine.”
Yes, even those learning to live again and come alive cry daily. It’s what works for them.
More, an emphasis of The On Coming Alive project is not to pretend that the pain of loss does not exist; rather, as founder of the project and Still Standing Magazine contributor Lexi Behrndt says, “…In the light, like a flower opens in the sun’s warmth and nourishment, the light can make a broken heart come alive, shedding the frost, shedding the numb from the winter’s cold, and blossoming, even if it hurts sometimes, and even if it’s hard, it’s also beautiful. This project isn’t just about a few people who have inspiring stories after loss, but an effort to share stories, one with another, to rise from ashes and come alive again.”
Another contributor to the project, Laura Barr, who lost her son Henry to stillbirth, was propelled by the pain of her loss to spread her love for Henry around as much as she could. Laura said, “I could finally see clearly that my immense grief, this whole unfortunate journey, was for better or for worse an outcome of my immense love for Henry, a love that would endure far longer than the pain.”
Contributor Monica Green lost her son Mason to brain cancer. He died when he was 11, but Monica said, “I don’t want grief to define me just as I won’t let cancer define Mason. My life may be divided into before Mason died and after, but love, not grief, is the connection between the two.”
Love is the connection that these women, and the other 71 men and women who shared their stories on the project launch day all have.
Love is what motivates them to live and be alive…through all sorts of loss and grief.
The On Coming Alive Project is now accepting submissions to share YOUR coming alive stories. From their submission page (you can click here to submit!) :
“Share your story of rising from the ashes and coming alive. No matter how you’ve suffered or what you’ve faced, be it the loss of a loved one, depression or anxiety, life-threatening illnesses, abuse, relational loss, etc. you can share your story of rising from the ashes and coming alive and join us in this movement #oncomingalive.”
They welcome you to take advantage of the opportunity to share how grief and loss does not have the final say, and we look forward to standing with you as you do.
I’m small, but scrappy! I have a fierce passion for my family, friends and life in general…I’m a military spouse who has battled infertility for over 13 years, as well as the loss of two babies gone too soon. I love to laugh, and am grateful for every second I celebrate with the ones I love. You can find me at my blog Lori Does Maryland or on Facebook Lori Mullins Ennis or on The Twitter here Lori M. Ennis
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