First Monday of Month (FMM) - Peer-Led Support Topic Meeting

Our topic this month is: “Finding Balance between Loss and Hope” 

How does the sadness of loss not dominate our lives?  

We often hear from our members that they feel like they are grieving "incorrectly." That they are not "getting to closure." That they are stuck in sadness and grief.

This is the topic we explore in April. How can we carry sadness while moving forward? Can we simultaneously experience sadness and joy, hurt and love, grief and hope?

Please join us as we discuss these meaningful questions.

In preparation for these meetings, our Topic Committee volunteers suggest the following articles: 

Changing Your Relationship with Grief 

10 Tips for Integrating and Transcending Grief & Loss

During and After Grief, it is Possible to Find Happiness 

Co-Leaders:  Andrea & Carol

Andrea Vollmerhausen: Zooming in from Clayton, CA

About Me: I love to travel, so being a travel agent is a natural career for me.  I am a person who loves to get things done, I don't sit around and wait for a solution; I find it.  In that spirit, one of my strategies is planning where to go post COVID. 

Interests: Traveling, History (makes the places I visit so meaningful) Reading, spending time with my children and grandchildren and all my "best" friends.

Works well with:  Being on the West Coast, I’m delighted to connect with members who operate best in Pacific and Mountain time zones.

Year of loss: 2007

Carol Elizondo: Zooming in from Concord, CA

About Me: I think kindness, compassion and positivity is so important.  Instead of finding the glass half full or half empty, I find the glass refillable.  I have 2 Daughters, 2 Fantastic sons in law and 2 grandchildren.  

Interests: Reading and Walking, which morphed into walking with my headphones on while listening to books ever since COVID started—what a delightful coping strategy for me! 

Works well with:  empty nesters and widows who want to learn and grow and move forward with purpose.

Year of loss: 2018