Grief Messes With Time

One of the stranger things about grief is how it messes with your sense of time. Some days feel like they last forever. Other times, whole weeks disappear and you don’t even know what happened. You forget dates, you mix up timelines, you feel like something was just yesterday even though it was months ago. Or even the opposite, it feels like years have passed when it’s only been weeks or days. I sometimes say it feels like Nick was here yesterday, but at exact same time it’s been a lifetime since I have seen him, heard him, given him a hug. I’m feeling overwhelmed at the thought that the ten year anniversary of his death is in May. How can it be 2025, when so much of me still feels that 2015 is so close by.

It’s disorienting. And it’s normal. Grief pulls your brain in a thousand directions. Your body’s just trying to keep up. So if time feels off, you’re not broken. You’re grieving.

Listen to Megan Devine talk about more grief and time.

~ With care

Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

NEW MEETINGS & FACILITATORS!

We are excited to announce that JOURNEY TO HOPE has joined The Sun Will Rise! That means we now have four groups a month specifically for parents! We are thankful to Gail Langley & Robyn Stokowski who bring their years of facilitation to our organization! This group starts on 4/7/25 and will meet via zoom.

Meet Gail Langley: My co-founder Robyn and I met at a candlelight vigil hosted by NOWA on International Overdose Awareness Day. We had recently lost our son, Matt, to fentanyl overdose. My husband, Ken, and I were struggling for information and answers. Robyn and I felt there were no resources or support groups at that time (about 7years ago) specifically dedicated to parents of victims of SUD. We felt our experiences with other grief groups did not address the devastating impact of loss and stigma on a parent losing a child to this disease. For me, Matty's addiction was my addiction as well. I was anxious, afraid and hypervigilant for years; I knew I needed help and hope. I needed to connect with other parents who truly knew how I felt. In talking to Robyn, I found that she understood; she got it; she got me. We knew there had to be other parents out there dealing with this unique dynamic. We presented the Journey to Hope Parent Grief Group concept to NOWA's parent company, and they agreed to allow us the use of their Zoom platform and physical space. Enter COVID, and we ultimately met via Zoom exclusively. We often have members from other states and all over Massachusetts. We knew we were on a journey to heal and used Robyn's daughter's middle name, Hope, to complete our name. Our goal is to provide understanding, information, love and support to other parents no matter where they are on their own personal Journey to Hope.

Meet Robyn Stokowski: Robyn lost her daughter Amanda Hope on March 2, 2011, to an opioid overdose. Struggling through the early years of grief, she was unable to find support that would identify with stigma that surrounded the loss of her daughter. She had attended an Overdose Awareness vigil where she met Gail who had just recently lost her son to the disease, they immediately connected and Journey to Hope Parent Grief Peer Support Group was birthed. JTH has been meeting for 6 years surviving the pandemic reaching grieving parents throughout the United States.

Big News! A third People In Recovery (PIR) grief group starts up on 4/16/25. This will be our first hybrid PIR, meeting in-person in Weymouth MA and via zoom at the same time! Thanks to The Sun Will Rise’s Director Leslie Lagos for facilitating this new meeting at the Wey of Life Peer Recovery Center!

The month of April will also launch the new East Boston in-person group! A location that has needed a group for a long time finally has has access to in-person support and will meet at Recovery on the Harbor. This group is open to anyone 18+ and will be facilitated by our new facilitator Rose Stone. This group starts 4/23/25. Thanks Rose!

Meet Rose Stone: I became interested in being able to facilitate a group meeting as a support for the community. After my husband passed in 2016 I became aware that there was support for people like me that had lost a loved one to addiction. Yes, there were groups already happening before that, but I didn’t know of the resource until I was looking for the support for myself. I was married for 11 years we had 3 kids and felt I was alone with my grief. At the time I was working with Gavin foundation in their peer-to-peer support center in South Boston and experienced how peer support helped so many people. Only having 1 year sober I knew the connection of support meetings, like AA/NA, that helped me through moments in my life, but I needed a connection to other people that that experienced loss and were still able to live their lives and share their hope with others whose life changed from loss. Showing that carrying their love and honoring them was how you could carry their legacy and show others how to do the same thing.

UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Drumming Through Trauma April 27, 2025 12:30-2:00 pm Cotuit MA

Drumming isn’t just music. It’s movement, it’s rhythm, it’s release. A way to express what words can’t. Drumming Through Trauma is a space to let go, feel the beat and release what’s been held inside. No experience needed. Drumming Through Trauma – REGISTER HERE! Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Questions? Please contact Judy Kelly: 781-264-0557 judyannkelly@gmail.com

Remembering our Angels 5K TEAM!

Join the The Sun Will Rise team and walk/run with us at The Remembering our Angels 5k Run/Walk!!! The Sun Will Rise Foundation, Inc. is honored to walk again this year in support, remembrance and community. Last year, over 50 of us came together as a team and we’re ready to do it again! We walk to honor them, to support each other and to show that no one has to grieve alone. Join our team! If you have already registered individually and would like to join the team, just let me know

COMMUNITY

Backpack Drive

As usual, we asked and you answered…what an amazing response to the Backpack Drive for the Boston Backpack Project. Thanks for all your contributions. Each and every donation helps make a real difference!

Stop the Stigma 5K

It’s the season for the walks & races ! Gayle Ferrraro, group member and bereaved aunt to Colin, has been making a documentary about The Sun Will Rise Weymouth MA group and the grief support she found so helpful when she joined. She’s decided to create a team for this 5K and the documentary crew will be there. Please sign up if you would like to support her team in memory of her nephew. Colin's Crew at https://runsignup.com/Race/Register?raceId=106483 and select to join the team.

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.

THIS WEEK’S MEETING INFORMATION

Wednesday - IN-PERSON, TAUNTON, MA 4/2/25 7:00-8:00 pm ET.

Sandra Chase facilitating.

Learn to Cope Office, 4 Court Street, #110, Taunton, MA.

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

______________

Wednesday - IN-PERSON, PORTLAND, ME 4/2/25 6:00-7:30 pm ET.

Karen Walsh and Rachel Solomon facilitating.

The Family Restored, 631 Stevens Avenue, Suite 205, Portland, ME

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

_______________

Wednesday - IN-PERSON, BRAVEHEARTS FALMOUTH MA 4/2/25 1:30-3:00 pm ET.

Kerry Bickford facilitating.

UU Falmouth MA, 840 Sandwich Road, East Falmouth, MA.

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

______________

Wednesday - ZOOM - 4/2/25 7:00-8:30 pm ET.

Robyn Houston-Bean facilitating.

For anyone 18 and over who has experienced the death of someone they care about due to substance use.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89339848976?pwd=ayd1jLi4bBYapnBuybFIkmTE7fhDfq.1

Meeting ID: 893 3984 8976

Passcode: 135336 or

One tap mobile 16465588656

_______________

Thursday - GRIEVING GRANDPARENTS - ZOOM 4/3/25 5:30-6:30 pm ET.

Kerry Bickford facilitating.

For grandparents that have experienced the death of a family member due to substance use now navigating grief and other issues with their grandchildren. The focus of this Thursday group will be on the grandchildren.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/2334755647

Meeting ID: 233 475 5647 or

One tap mobile 16465588656

______________

MOVING FORWARD-PEER GRIEF SUPPORT FOR PARENTS IN-PERSON, NORTH ATTLEBORO MA 4/6/25 6:30-8:00 pm ET.

Kathi Sullivan facilitating.

Sullivan’s Message Resource Community Center,

218 Park Street, North Attleboro, MA For parents who have experienced the death of a child due to substance use.