One of the ideas I've clung to most of my life is that if I just try hard enough it will work out. Meghan O'Rourke clinghardhave Change image and share on social
My mother never liked Mother's Day. She thought it was a fake holiday dreamed up by Hallmark to commodify deep sentiments that couldn't be expressed with a card. Meghan O'Rourke cardcommodifyday Change image and share on social
Grief is characterized much more by waves of feeling that lessen and reoccur, it's less like stages and more like different states of feeling. Meghan O'Rourke characterizefeltgrief Change image and share on social
This is part of the complexity of grief: A piece of you recognizes it is an extreme state, an altered state, yet a large part of you is entirely subject to its demands. Meghan O'Rourke altercomplexitydemand Change image and share on social
Our minds are mysterious; our conscious brain is like a ship on a sea that is obscure to us. Meghan O'Rourke brainconsciousmind Change image and share on social
A death from a long illness is very different from a sudden death. It gives you time to say goodbye and time to adjust to the idea that the beloved will not be with you anymore. Meghan O'Rourke adjustanymorebeloved Change image and share on social
I believe in the importance of individuality, but in the midst of grief I also find myself wanting connection - wanting to be reminded that the sadness I feel is not just mine but ours. Meghan O'Rourke connectionfeelfind Change image and share on social
My mother died of metastatic colorectal cancer shortly before three P.M. on Christmas Day of 2008. I don't know the exact time of her death, because none of us thought to look at a clock for a while after she stopped breathing. Meghan O'Rourke breathecancerchristmas share on social
The truth is, I need to experience my mother's presence in the world around me and not just in my head. Meghan O'Rourke experienceheadmother Change image and share on social
My theory is this: Women falter when they're called on to be highly self-conscious about their talents. Not when they're called on to enact them. Meghan O'Rourke callconsciousenact Change image and share on social
