BEHIND THE SCENES- WHY A TOUCH OF GRACE
BEHIND THE SCENES gives you the viewer a chance to hear the mission behind this endeavor. This whole idea, from the name of my business, A Touch of Grace, to the ever evolving product lines grew from my desire to find meaning and clarity in my life. (pictured-my store in Northfield, MA.)
TRAGEDY STRUCK- On Nov. 14, 2005, my husband John, was killed in a fluke motorcycle accident. He was in PA. trying to sell our home. I had already relocated back to MA to with our 2 children (age 21 and 23 at the time)to get things situated. We had all talked with him on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 and then in the blink of an eye by the next night he was gone. He was on his way home from work, an unusually warm day for northwestern PA, on his motorcycle when a deer ran into him. He died in route to the hospital of massive head trauma. Our world ceased to exist as we had once known it. In the first few months after his death we were in such utter shock still expecting someone, anyone, would wake us and we would realize it had all been a terrible nightmare. That didn't happen and each day became existence...not living in the true sense of the word.
TIME PASSES- It is now 2 years and 3 months since his death. The FIRST YEAR you are numb, going about doing all that has to be done-caring for your children's needs and emotions, handling financial matters, real estate matters, and grieving the loss of your loved one as well as the loss of all your dreams you had planned together. THE SECOND YEAR reality sets in that this is forever. He won't come walking through the door anymore. During this time period I believe the true grieving begins. For me, trying to pick up the pieces and move forward was extremely difficult and exhausting. I wanted to be strong for my children and family (we had suffered 7 deaths that year) so I wore a mask, a survival mask. This mask allowed me to seem ok when around people but when alone it crumbled on the floor and exposed the lost soul I had now become. What was I to do without my soulmate of 24 years, what was my purpose now, what was I suppose to do with my life...all questions I had no answers for.
FROM GRIEF TO CLARITY- This came about when I began working with a Grief Coach- Sheila Christianson*. She helped me to see all those pieces on the ground, rearrange them into a new life for myself and put them back together in a way that nurtured my soul and gave me purpose again. I worked hard with her doing The Grief Recovery Program*, taking a hard look at myself and finally taking a Grief Wellness Cruise* to Hawaii. There, on the balcony of this ship,over the open oceans surrounding the islands, I found my clarity and my purpose for living. I no longer wanted to exist in my life anymore. I wanted to take my husband's essense for life, take my new found joy for life and do something with it.
A Touch of Grace is born. I came back from a life changing experience in Hawaii. The Grief Wellness Cruise, Sheila, the 6 other participants, the healing nature of the islands all are a part of where I am today. So, on Oct. 1 2007, I began on this journey of A TOUCH OF GRACE. I wanted to create again, something that had left me when my husband died. I wanted what I created to have meaning, to uplift people and to bring a bit of joyful grace to their lives.
BEHIND THE SCENES...you can see that this isn't just a site born from a desire to meet the bottom line, the almighty dollar. Yes, we all have to make a living and I am no exception but doing what I do, creating, feeds my soul and my heart....I hope it can do the same for you! Cindy Dikeman
*Sheila Christianson-Grief Wellness Coach, Grief Recovery Program, Grief Retreats and Cruises- www.sheilachristianson.com and www.healingpalmskauai.com
TRAGEDY STRUCK- On Nov. 14, 2005, my husband John, was killed in a fluke motorcycle accident. He was in PA. trying to sell our home. I had already relocated back to MA to with our 2 children (age 21 and 23 at the time)to get things situated. We had all talked with him on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 and then in the blink of an eye by the next night he was gone. He was on his way home from work, an unusually warm day for northwestern PA, on his motorcycle when a deer ran into him. He died in route to the hospital of massive head trauma. Our world ceased to exist as we had once known it. In the first few months after his death we were in such utter shock still expecting someone, anyone, would wake us and we would realize it had all been a terrible nightmare. That didn't happen and each day became existence...not living in the true sense of the word.
TIME PASSES- It is now 2 years and 3 months since his death. The FIRST YEAR you are numb, going about doing all that has to be done-caring for your children's needs and emotions, handling financial matters, real estate matters, and grieving the loss of your loved one as well as the loss of all your dreams you had planned together. THE SECOND YEAR reality sets in that this is forever. He won't come walking through the door anymore. During this time period I believe the true grieving begins. For me, trying to pick up the pieces and move forward was extremely difficult and exhausting. I wanted to be strong for my children and family (we had suffered 7 deaths that year) so I wore a mask, a survival mask. This mask allowed me to seem ok when around people but when alone it crumbled on the floor and exposed the lost soul I had now become. What was I to do without my soulmate of 24 years, what was my purpose now, what was I suppose to do with my life...all questions I had no answers for.
FROM GRIEF TO CLARITY- This came about when I began working with a Grief Coach- Sheila Christianson*. She helped me to see all those pieces on the ground, rearrange them into a new life for myself and put them back together in a way that nurtured my soul and gave me purpose again. I worked hard with her doing The Grief Recovery Program*, taking a hard look at myself and finally taking a Grief Wellness Cruise* to Hawaii. There, on the balcony of this ship,over the open oceans surrounding the islands, I found my clarity and my purpose for living. I no longer wanted to exist in my life anymore. I wanted to take my husband's essense for life, take my new found joy for life and do something with it.
A Touch of Grace is born. I came back from a life changing experience in Hawaii. The Grief Wellness Cruise, Sheila, the 6 other participants, the healing nature of the islands all are a part of where I am today. So, on Oct. 1 2007, I began on this journey of A TOUCH OF GRACE. I wanted to create again, something that had left me when my husband died. I wanted what I created to have meaning, to uplift people and to bring a bit of joyful grace to their lives.
BEHIND THE SCENES...you can see that this isn't just a site born from a desire to meet the bottom line, the almighty dollar. Yes, we all have to make a living and I am no exception but doing what I do, creating, feeds my soul and my heart....I hope it can do the same for you! Cindy Dikeman
*Sheila Christianson-Grief Wellness Coach, Grief Recovery Program, Grief Retreats and Cruises- www.sheilachristianson.com and www.healingpalmskauai.com
A Touch of Grace, 564 Mt. Hermon Station Rd., Northfield, MA 01360, 413-225-3060
