Light a candle to honor the light that cannot be extinguished.

Under the Walnut Tree, a poem by Lynn Martin
Lynn Martin's poem makes a sudden bridge from sorrows we cannot express to the universality of this heart-stricken aloneness. A "deep listening" unites us.

Gratefulness: A Source of Strength - German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflects on the transformative power of gratefulness during grief.

Learning to Die, an article by Brother David Steindl-Rast. "Whenever we do give up a person or a thing or a position, when we truly give it up, we die – yes, but we die into greater aliveness."

O Spirit of Life and Renewal - Do you ever feel that you have wintered long enough? Let this poem by Jane Rzepka lift your spirits.

Running in the Rain, from the Rain, to the Rain, an essay by James Behrens. Behrens describes one possible response when love hurts us.

Sun Trail, a poem by Dale Biron. How do we each respond to happiness? Can we gratefully embrace the gifts life provides?

Laughter, a poem by Dale Biron. Who among us has not dealt with our share of grief and sorrow? Perhaps it was some profound disappointment around a goal we did not reach, sadness when a loved one passed away, or anguish over world events. This poem speaks of that time when healing occurs.

Any Morning, a poem by William Stafford. Give yourself permission to rest in a moment of simple pleasure, free from judgment, through Stafford’s poetic hints.

The Now That Does Not Pass Away, an interview with Brother David Steindl-Rast
What do we do with the fact that our human life is bound for destruction; yet that “all joy wants eternity,” as Nietzsche puts it?

Praying the Great Dance
Brother David describes ways to be "anchored in lasting joy" through prayer.

Great Longing, a Qbox answer by Norman Fischer. Human longing is endless, and only something equally endless can satisfy it.

Coming to Terms with the Sorrow of Being, a Qbox answer by Linda Fisher. To relieve our suffering we must learn and experience what we have never been taught: That joy and sorrow are not opposites, but inherently interdependent.

Joyful Suffering, a Qbox answer by Brother David. Sooner or later, to live means to suffer; but if you live gratefully you can through suffering become more creative and more truly yourself.

Stand in Another Place - In this video, Nancy Slonim Aroni shows how her rich, many-layered life could not be so without her anguish and sorrow alongside her love and joy.

Special Memories - Two sisters reminisce about their last Thanksgiving dinner with their mother in this oral history from NPR's StoryCorps program.

Project Happiness - Students from California, Tibet, and Nigeria discover the connection between ethics and happiness through the Dalai Lama's writings, conversations with each other, and a private meeting with His Holiness.

Caring Connections, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), provides information and resources for those experiencing grief and loss.

CarePages offers free, personal webpages to connect family and friends in a support network during illness and injury.

Griefnet.org is an Internet community of people dealing with grief, death, and major loss. The site offer email support groups, resources for kids, an opportunity to create and view memorials, and much more.

Pray the News: Carmelite Sisters in Indianapolis demonstrate a prayerful response to the grief which world news evokes in us.

Through a Glass Darkly:  This Sun magazine interview of Miriam Greenspan by Barbara Platek  – both of whom are psychotherapists and authors  – explores the "emotional alchemy" through which dark emotions like grief, fear, and despair can be transformed.

Everyday Forgiveness: Vocalist, composer, and author Rachel Bagby learned to practice empowering forgiveness with her father towards the end of his life. Her admission of the difficulty of the task and her request for visitors to share their own stories, accompanied by her own healing music, make this site uniquely capable of guiding us through this most challenging form of giving.

Loving What Is: When we argue with reality, we cut short our chances at happiness. Byron Katie offers a practical form of inquiry that helps set us free.

Hugs and Hope: Children fighting for their lives have very little to smile about.  You can change that by gifts of friendship.

Random Acts of Kindness offer us one sure route to happiness.

Breaking the Drought, by Stephen Levine -- "Here are poems of the heart that speak directly to our spirit today. Anyone who reads them will be quickened and touched. Both timely and timeless, these visions of grace are like nectar to the soul." (Lama Surya Das)  At Ecoversity, you can watch videos of Levine reading selected poems from this powerful new book.

Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness, by Brother David Steindl-Rast. Through emptiness as well as fullness, Brother David shows us the way to say “yes” to belonging.

Dark Nights of the Soul: A Guide to Finding Your Way Through Life's Ordeals, by Thomas Moore. “When it comes to spiritual growth, we humans are solar-seeking beings; eager for the bright lights of clarity and the bliss of illumination. Paradoxically, we all need to walk through the shadow of the dark night in order to discover a life worth living.” (Gail Hudson, reviewer for Amazon.com)

Lives of Gratefulness, by Dale A. Johnson.  Read stories of people who have found, in Dale's words, that "Gratefulness will not take away suffering, but transform it into joy."

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times, by Pema Chodron. How can we capture the fundamental happiness that’s always within our reach? With a universal touch, Tibetan Buddhist abbot Pema Chodron writes about loneliness, death, and the love that will not die.

Gratitude Works: Open Your Heart To Love, by Katherine Scherer, Eileen Bodoh.  These daily readings about gratitude increase our awareness of the many wonders of life and the interconnectedness of gratefulness and happiness.

A Short Guide to a Happy Life, by Anna Quindlen. Short and sweet, this book serves as a reminder that “you are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life.”

The Bond Between Women: A Journey to Fierce Compassion, by China Galland. If you’ve ever felt that you need a wailing wall in order to respond fully to the suffering of the world, this book may provide not only the outlet you need but the strength and hope to make a difference.

On Angel’s Eve: Making the Most of Your Final Time Together, by Garnette Arledge. A warm, personal guide to helping loved ones through their last hours.