Sharing is Caring

Hello hello! Grace here.

I hope this finds you safe, happy and healthy. I really do.

As many of you know (from one of Mum’s recent blogs) my lovely Mark and I have had a rough couple of weeks, with the news of his good friend Pete’s death. I’d prefer to not talk about it publicly, but I don’t think that is healthy or helps anyone. And I’m always saying ‘sharing is caring’ aren’t I? It feels weirder not to say anything.
We all go through this at some stage in life, and I know many of you have dealt with your fair share of loss yourselves. Poor Mark lost a very good friend, under tragic circumstances.

The funeral was beyond heartbreaking to say the least, but everyone is managing. We are supporting each other, as well as friends and family, which in turn helps us. It’s just sad all round. Sometimes there is no way to put a positive spin on things, that’s new for me. I’m the queen of spinning positivity around things. But this one has tested me. So, the next thing is to learn acceptance and take that advice that I so often preach to everyone else. Travel gently. I’m sure so many of you can relate to this. So I’m just sticking close to my fella, trying my best to support him through it all and learning acceptance on the side, for myself.

The world can be beautiful. And it can be tragic. And the best thing to do (and possibly the only thing?!) is build acceptance around that. And talk to people about what’s going on in your life. And gradually, with the help of good ol’ TIME, the days start to get brighter again.

Sadly and strangely, as I was writing this, I received more sad news that my lovely friend (and acting manager since 2015) Jenevieve suddenly passed away this week. She was only 44. We just communicated a couple of days ago. Another mind blowing tragedy.
This is a sure sign that I was on the right path though, talking about acceptance. Because it just keeps on coming sometimes. And we have no choice but to accept it. Acceptance acceptance acceptance. Happiness is on the other side of acceptance. I’ve been listing aaaaaall the other wonderful people in my life that are okay today. That’s helping, because there are so many. Acceptance & gratitude. The things to reach for in those sad times. I hope you reach for them too when you’re struggling.

Choosing our weekly Saturday Share cards (as always) was a great exercise for me. Slow down, calm down, look at stunning artwork, appreciate what’s in front of you, be present. Maybe even grab a cup of tea 🙂 Take a breath and join me…

Annette Mercer
Beverley West
Lorraine Mason
Deborah Wheeler
Nellie Melon
Ros Wood
Julia WeigeIt
Lisa Moon
Robin Hutchens Scianna-Norris
Yvonne Weaver
Christine Richards
Christine Parkes
Leonie Willey
Hilda Smith
Linda Bazely
Ruth James
Sue Holland
Anne Carslake

Absolutely beautiful. Each and every one. Thank you for the distraction.

Travel gently… I will be doing the same.

Lotsa love, Grace xo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-Being.

15 thoughts on “Sharing is Caring

  • 16th October 2021 at 7:58 pm
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    Hi Grace, Such a tragic time for you all, my heart goes out to you. Take care of your man and let Mark take care of you. You are in my prayers, as are the families of both your friends. I know only too well how traumatic things can turn out, in a split second.
    As every week, I am in awe of the beautiful artwork shown on this blog, brilliant.
    Take care.
    Lots of love from Patricia xx

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  • 16th October 2021 at 8:22 pm
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    So sorry to hear your news, but hope you can get through this by remembering all the good times & being there for each other as needed. Live today sort tomorrow out when it comes – you just don’t know what is round the corner so make the most of every day.
    Another great selection of cards this week – love looking at what everyone has created.
    Travel gently throughout the coming days – will look in tomorrow to see what you have lined up for us for Groovi Sunday x

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    • 17th October 2021 at 7:56 pm
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      so sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time Grace. You are right about learning acceptance to help navigate through all the storms – not easy though! Thank you so much for choosing my cards in the gallery – I’m in great company as there are so many fabulous creations here. xxx

      Reply
  • 16th October 2021 at 8:28 pm
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    So sorry, Grace, that life is so tough right now. Life changes in the blink of an eye which brings home to all of us how important it is to treasure every moment we are gifted. Life is so precious. Just be kind to yourself and as you say yourself, travel gently. Love your selection of cards again this week. Thank you for sharing one of mine. I love doing these. Lots of love. Hxxx

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  • 16th October 2021 at 9:28 pm
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    My love and thoughts are with you and Mark during such a sad time for you both. Thank goodness you have each other for support. Thank you for choosing one of my cards to share, with all those beauties. As you always say, travel gently. Hugs. Annette X

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  • 16th October 2021 at 10:15 pm
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    Thank you for sharing that……. I can feel your pain and keep travelling gently. I lost my Dad 4 months ago and my mum 2 weeks ago. It will be her funeral on Monday. A friend said to me be kind to yourself and don’t expect things to be normal because they won’t. I’ll try to heed that advice and will try to travel gently myself. I’ve lost my crafty mojo a bit but did get a die and some of the Antarctica and Amazonia card to cheer myself up! Take care x

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    • 16th October 2021 at 11:05 pm
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      Deepest sympathy to you and the families and friends involved with both losses. So much to take in at the moment. I’ve had a mentally stressful week this week but nothing compared to this sort of news or yesterday’’s tragic sadness here yesterday, so I’m grateful, grateful for my family (furry and non furry), friends and crafting. Sometimes there are just no words to explain it all. Big hugs to you and Mark x x

      Beautiful work everyone x x

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      • 17th October 2021 at 4:53 pm
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        Oh Grace, I feel for you. So sorry but as you say, acceptance. It’s harder especially when not expected. It is also
        Just as heart breaking when expected but it also comes with the acceptance that there is happy release, no more suffering. Love to you both. Virtual hugs x

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  • 17th October 2021 at 12:27 am
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    My sincerest condolences to you and Mark and to the families too. Losing our peers often has more impact on us than we realise. Do take time to grieve your friends but take time for yourself too. Love and be loved. Think of the happy times you spent with your departed friends to gain comfort.
    Sending you and Mark a big hug too as I’m sure you need one right now. X
    Lots of love. Xxxx

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  • 17th October 2021 at 8:14 am
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    Take care of you and Mark, Grace, what a tough time you are having, but as someone very wise keeps saying, “This too shall pass”. Thinking of you from across the sea. Beautiful cards as always. Travel very gently xx

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  • 17th October 2021 at 9:12 am
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    Dear Grace, Mark and Anne-Marie (above post) am thinking of you all at this sad time. Everyone says time heals but it doesn’t, it just enables you cope better so give time, time and be kind to yourself. Beautiful artwork to calm and inspire as always, they are always so different from each other. Take care xxx

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  • 17th October 2021 at 11:53 am
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    Dear Grace
    Life can be rubbish sometimes but I guess it is those experiences that let us appreciate and enjoy the good times when they come. After my mum died someone said to me that I could give myself permission to be sad sometimes as this is part of the healing process too. Sending you, and everyone dealing with loss, love and hugs.
    Zara

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  • 17th October 2021 at 1:22 pm
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    My condolences to you and Mark. It is hard to come to terms with losing those dear to us. My recipe for getting past the initial grief is to celebrate all the good things they did and the good times you had together. My dad said to me ” the best thing you can do for me when I’m gone is don’t mourn my passing, just live each day the best you can and this will get you through” A few months later he died but I never forgot his words and if there is an afterlife I swear he is keeping a kindly watch over me.
    Beautiful artwork again this week, really inspiring.
    Travel gently Grace and Mark. You are in my thoughts.

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  • 22nd October 2021 at 6:27 pm
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    Sometimes the words don’t come, but you are in my thoughts.
    Travelling gently is often tough.

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  • 29th October 2021 at 9:30 pm
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    My dear Grace,
    I have just sent a question to Clarity about where you are. I missed you the last weeks when I opened my account. No helping hand on the website. But I thought that you were busy with the retreat and the spa weekend and that you had taken a few weeks off. So I sent my greetings to you by sending an e-mail to Clarity.
    When I had done that, my eyes all of a sudden fell at the Clarity Matters blog. I seldom read the blog, but now I did and I read what you and Mark are going through at the moment. My deepest condolences to You and Mark and to the families of those that passed away.
    How devastating this must be for the two of you. Of course it is always hard to loose someone at any time in ones life, but it has most impact on younger people, becourse they are not as prepared to meat this sort of things. Young people don’t think as often about death and losses as we older people do. I think you are on the right way by supporting Mark and try to accept the loss of a good friend. But it is easy to say, but hard to learn. Try to be kind to yourself too Grace. It is so good that you talk about it. Don’t hide your grief behind a mask of happiness. It will at the end only hurt you more. I hope this grief will make you both stronger and your love for each other deeper. You both are in my thoughts. . Your mother always says “this too will pass” but it will take a while before it passes and I wish you both much strength during that time.

    Reply

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