All posts by MaryMac

MaryMac is a grief and bereavement specialist, host of The Mary Mac Show podcast, award-winning author, speaker, executive grief coach, consultant and founder of The Foundation For Grieving Children, Inc., the first national public charity of its kind which raises funds to assist, counsel, comfort and educate children, teens, young adults and their families after a loved one's death.

2021 Podcast Awards | Would Love Your Vote in July

We are excited to announce that The Mary Mac Show has been nominated at the People’s Choice Podcast Awards in the Category of Health!

This would not have been possible without your support of our show.

We now reach 70 countries, ranked in the top 10 podcasts for Grief and Bereavement, and in the top 10% of all podcasts worldwide.

But we need your help!!

Voting takes place from July 1st through July 31st.

And I’m counting on my listeners from around the world to vote for us!!

It would mean so much to me if you’d take the time to go to www.PodcastAwards.com, sign in to vote and cast your vote for The Mary Mac Show under the Health Category.

You also have a place to add my name and show when you sign in, if you consider me someone who has influenced you along your journey.

Also I’d appreciate it if you would share this post with all your family, friends and colleagues who are deeply hurting as well as to your social media platforms. Gaining exposure will help many more families.

Thank you so much for voting and spreading the word!

Much Love!

The Mary Mac Show | Understanding the Myths of the Grieving Process

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 83, we discuss the myths we may believe about the grieving process based upon how others have grieved in the past. Yours is a unique grief and path, based upon the relationship you shared, how they died and where they died.

Each death affects you differently.

A death of a grandfather several states away that you had little interaction with will feel quite different than a grandfather who lived in your home, whom you saw each day and had a close relationship with.

The only knowledge we have as to how to grieve is usually what we have seen in our other relatives who endured a significant loss before us.

We saw the deep love and pain your grandparent felt after the death of their spouse.

You might have seen a friend who died early and how their parents were inconsolable from their loss.

But your loss, now, will be your own personal pain.

It will not be like any other you’ve witnessed before.

So listen in to Episode 83, where we talk about the myths behind the grieving process so you will not be confused as to how you’re supposed to grieve.

There is no one way to grieve.

You’re grieving process will be unique to you.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

xoxo

Independence Day

One of the greatest loves is love of country.

Whether it chooses you at birth, or you chose it by applying for and going through the legal path of citizenship, the allegiance one holds for its country is an honor and tribute to all the people who died to defend it.

Every country has its sovereign borders.

Every country defends itself from foreign forces.

That’s what makes a country, a country.

But when you intentionally have entities who teach children to hate their country, hate certain groups of people based upon their financial situation, their race, their religion and more, there is a pulling apart of citizenry that is harming all our citizens.

When law and order is no longer followed, even encouraged by certain politicians, we are harming our citizens.

What most don’t realize is that the cities that are crying for defunding police, are the exact cities with the most crime who need increased police presence more than most.

Homicides are rising exponentially and while we look at all these statistics, we don’t realize that in all those numbers are grieving families.

Those are human beings who are being murdered every hour of every day.

And without enough resources to solve those crimes, no justice will prevail.

On this 4th of July, our American Independence Day, I pray for these survivors of homicide victims and pray for their comfort and peace.

I pray for the safety of all Americans today and always.

We have an amazing country and my heart breaks for every single murder, all of which could be prevented.

None were necessary.

None.

Bless this country.

There is not one other country like ours.

And that’s why so many people are yearning to get here. Either the legal way, or the illegal way.

The Mary Mac Show | Death of a Spouse

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 82, we discuss the challenges we face after the death of our husband or wife and how widows and widowers struggle to build a new life.

Widowhood is, by far, one of the most stressful and overwhelming losses we can experience.

Whether we have lost a husband or wife who was with us for a few years or decades, the relationship we shared with them was, more than likely, the most intimate one we had in our lifetime.

They spent more time with us than any other person.

While we feel a great bond to our children, our spouse is the one with whom we started our adult journey before our children were born.

And when they become adults and move onto their own lives, it is our spouse who is still next to us to live the remainder of our days.

Even if we divorce and remarry, that person is the one we share the majority of our waking hours with, apart from working.

We wake with them.

We go to sleep with them.

We enjoy all sorts of experiences with them.

They are our best friends who listen to us when we are sad, confused, angry, frustrated.

They hold us when we cry.

They console us when we are hurting.

They are our confidante, unlike any other.

So when they die, we are devastated.

And recovering from our grief is difficult and a long-term process.

Listen in to Episode 82 to learn what happens at the beginning of widowhood.

And remember, when it becomes overwhelming, do reach out to grief counselors at hotlines (see below) to listen and console you.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions. Even if it is a suicide hotline, do not think they cannot help you. You do not need to feel suicidal to speak with these wonderful counselors. They are there to listen to you.

I encourage you to find support groups for widows and widowers by searching online for “widowed groups” in your city/town. They usually meet a few times each month at the local church, senior center, hospital or hospice in your area.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Father’s Day

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 81, we remember our father and father figures who made an impact on our lives. We also discuss the pain of bereaved fathers, and father’s whose wives are struggling to bear children and fear they will never be called “Dad.”

The pain from a father’s death is often severe especially if we had a wonderful relationship with our Dads.

But, sometimes, our relationship wasn’t as we would expect and we struggle with the ‘what if’s’ and perhaps guilt that may bring.

Yet whatever the relationship, good or bad, that we had with him, we must forgive ourselves and even moreso him for what you needed that you didn’t get, for what you and he said to each other that stung, and all the unfinished business that might still linger that neither of you can do anything about anymore.

We also recognize all the father figures who raised you and cared for you if your Dad died younger than expected.

And we also talk about bereaved fathers who have buried their child, children or even all their children.

Lastly, we look at men who struggle to have children with their wives, those who experience a miscarriage or stillborn child, as well as those who deal with infertility and/or the knowledge that they may never have children of their own. We also remember men who are older now and wished they had children years ago when it was more practical, or those who never found the right women to raise a family.

This can be a very melancholy day for some. Let us acknowledge them all.

Additional Notes:

Visit Crisis Connections at my website to telephone a trained counselor to speak with whenever you are feeling overwhelmed, confused, frightened, fearful or any host of emotions.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Healing.

You can watch Marissa Peer’s “I Am Enough” meditation.

Treat yourself to a lovely gift from our Heart of Gold “I Remember” Products from The Mary Mac Store.

Remember, a portion of all proceeds help fund The Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., the first national non-profit public charity which benefits children, teens, young adults after a loved one’s death which I established many years ago.

And remember to sign up for my private email list so we can always stay in touch, since social media is no longer reliable. Receive my ebook 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process for immediate download.

xoxo