Tag Archives: themarymacshow

The Mary Mac Show | Dealing with Stress

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 93, we look at how stress affects us during the grieving process and techniques that will help us bring calm to our lives.

When we are grieving, many survivors deal with stress as their lives unravel and uncertainty takes hold.

What they knew as their life before, is no longer there for them.

Whether they lost a husband, wife, father, mother, sister, brother, daughter, son or other significant person in their life, life as they once knew it will never be the same.

And so stress starts to creep up and confusion takes over as they try to figure out what needs to be done for the funeral, for their family, for themselves to survive this tragedy.

Whether the person was ill and expected to die, or was taken in an accident, sudden death or violence, their world has changed and it will take a long time to regroup and find a new way to live day by day.

In this episode we speak about how to handle stress as we make our way through the fog and beyond.

There is so much to do. So many decisions.

With help and time, these will be made.

But it is imperative to manage your stress so you can safely move through these times with your health.

Bless you my friend.
xoxo

Additional Notes:

You can obtain my free ebook entitled 21 Things You Must Know About The Grieving Process, available for immediate download right here on this site.

If you are ill or grieving a loved one’s death, take the time to research a hotline with trained counselors to speak with.

The very best individuals to connect with are those who are suffering your exact type of death. Go here.

If my podcast has helped you, I’d love for you to buy me a coffee to show your support! My thanks!

The Mary Mac Show | 9/11 – 20 Years Later

In Episode 92, we remember the morning of September 11, 2001, the deadliest terrorist attack in world history and the first on American soil.

For those of us old enough to remember, this was the darkest day in American history as we watched in utter horror as four planes were used as missiles to wreak terror on our nation.

People watched in lower Manhattan as both buildings of the World Trade Center were attacked and within hours imploded killing thousands.

Many jumped to their deaths from 100 stories or more because they couldn’t breathe from the smoke and flames.

Nearly three-thousand people died that day from 90 countries. And many more over the years from those like the Fire Department of New York and the New York Police Department who succumbed to cancers breathing in the toxic fumes from the ‘pile’ they worked on to rescue and recover victims.

The FDNY, the Fire Department of New York, lost 343 trying to save others.

That day is marked in all our minds by most of us alive on September 11, 2001. It is a day where we all knew exactly where we were. And most of us were glued to our television sets.

We will carry those memories forever.

Those who were in the buildings and made it out, lost many friends and grieve for their losses along with the victims’ families.

Those who were too young to even know what this was like, below you will see video footage compiled so we never forget.

And yes it’s graphic…that’s life. This is real life. It happened. People lived through this.

And for those who have claimed a single photo ‘triggered’ them, well it’s time to get a backbone because what’s ahead for our country is not good.

We have welcomed thousands of Afghan refugees and have no idea if they are terrorists. The chances of this happening again are high.

Here are the scenes of what happened that day:

Here is the memorial today where the towers once stood:

Bless everyone who died that day and the families and friends of those victims.

Take the time to listen to the names being read each year on 9/11 to honor them.

We must never forget!

The Mary Mac Show | Creating End of Life Choices

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 91, we discuss the courageous act of developing a plan for what we would like to happen should we become ill, unable to care for ourselves, or die and the decisions that need to be made so our families know of our desires.

Talking about our end of life planning is not something that most of us considers.

It is uncomfortable and quite frankly, we usually don’t know where to start, even if we decided it was something that we should do.

Most times, something dramatic has taken place which stirs us to consider that it would be a wise decision to do so.

Perhaps someone in our lives died suddenly.

Perhaps someone has a serious diagnosis that might be terminal.

It is at these times that dealing with the subject of death becomes more relevant in our lives.

That’s not to say we like it. Absolutely not.

Most of us find it abhorrent that we need to deal with this issue.

But at some point, and hopefully sooner than later, we take on the uncomfortable task of thinking about a will, a do-not-resusitate order (DNR), a living will, and possibly a trust so that our loved ones will understand our wishes when our life nears its end.

In this episode we talk about these legal documents and help you start to engage in these difficult tasks that need decisions and must be attended to if you want your loved ones to know of your desires.

The last thing you want is to leave behind chaos when you die. It causes stress among the family members who must sort out what they think you wanted versus what you did want.

So please take the time to listen in to Episode 91.

Don’t be afraid of this difficult topic. You and your family will be so grateful you took the time and energy to lay out your wishes before you leave them.

Bless you!
xoxo

Additional Notes:

If you are ill or grieving a loved one’s death, take the time to research a hotline with trained counselors to speak with.

The very best individuals to connect with are those who are suffering your exact type of death. Go here.

If my podcast has helped you, I’d love for you to buy me a coffee to show your support! Thanks!

The Mary Mac Show | Conversations About Death and Dying

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 90, we discuss the importance of speaking about death and dying preferably long before imminent death is upon our relatives and loved ones.

There is no doubt this is an uncomfortable topic, but one we need to discuss.

In this day and age, we have no idea when terminal illness and death will visit ourselves or our family.

And since so much is uncertain with variants of a virus that has consumed so much of the last year and a half, not to mention how the vaccine has killed people, we live in a specifically uncertain time.

It is true that if we didn’t have to deal with this, we wouldn’t.

It is uncomfortable.

Many people find it hard to talk about death and dying.

We’d rather leave it up to someone else.

But don’t let fear stop you from truly connecting with someone you love during the end days.

Sometimes death comes very quickly and it would be sad if you hadn’t had a conversation around death long before it ever occurred in your relationship with them.

If you had this conversation when they were well, or when they were diagnosed with an illness, you would capture a very wonderful connection with them.

There would be no regrets.

You would have said all you’d like to say to someone who meant so much to you.

We don’t know what the future holds these days. Life is so fragile now.

Take the time to think about this.

If it’s too sensitive to speak all you want to say aloud, do so in writing.

Either way, your soul will be at peace and no matter what happens in the future, you are settled.

Personally, I am thinking about writing out letters to the most important people in my life to acknowledge those who have helped me, loved me and let them know how grateful I feel to have them in my life.

With all that’s happening in this world, we could leave this life in an instant.

Use the time you have to make a difference.

Love you.
xoxo

Additional Notes:

If you are ill or grieving a loved one’s death, take the time to research a hotline with trained counselors to speak with.

The very best individuals to connect with are those who are suffering your exact type of death. Go here.

If my podcast has helped you, I’d love for you to buy me a coffee to show your support! Thanks!

The Mary Mac Show | Grieving For Our Infertility

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In Episode 89, we discuss the grief of not being able to get pregnant, the isolation when we choose not to share this with others, and alternatives some couples decide to take to build a family.

Most couples expect that when they decide to bring a new life into the world to add to their family, that it will be seamless. It will be easy and pregnancy will occur once they no longer use contraception.

Yet for many couples they are shocked when they have been disappointed for many months.

Specialists believe that when a couple cannot naturally conceive within a year of trying, they are then considered infertile.

And the grief that comes with that knowledge is one that is unexpected and sometimes, disenfranchised because as they proceed, they tend not to share this knowledge with others in the hope that pregnancy will occur in another month or so.

But during this time, they can feel isolated because they don’t want the entire world to know their pain and troubles.

In Episode 89, we discuss the pain of infertility and various options couple take toward having their own family.

Not being able to have your own family is, by far, a grief no one expects to endure.

Sending you my love. xoxo

Additional Notes:

If my podcast has helped you, I’d love your support by buying me a coffee.

My book Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death is perfect for those beginning their journey. Click here to get yours by downloading it immediately.

Visit www.Resolve.org to help you meet others who are grieving for their infertility, offering virtual support groups and information.

Use the Emotional Freedom Technique for Infertility. Simply search “EFT for Infertility” on the web. Will help you so much.

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.