Journey of Hearts

Often when I wonder if this site is making a difference, I receive an e-mail from someone that confirms we are helping. The inspiration for this page comes from a quote sent by a visitor to the site, answering my own question, "Can one person really make a difference?"

I'm only a tiny candle, in a dim world, but I manage to recommend your site to all I know.  Your Emergency Pick MeUp Kit, is constantly on my lips, from all who have suffered a loss, to all that like  musuems...You are a born nurturer, and I, my family, and all my internet
friends, have been given your site, for maximum ease, in walking this world. Your site, never ceases to amaze me....The time and care you give to it, must be astounding. You are truely an Imagineer.
Best Wishes....
Alan Steinberg
Harrington Park, New Jersey, USA

 
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
Albert Schweitzer
 

Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.
Erasmus

Many candles can be kindled from one candle without diminishing it.

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.
Samuel Johnson

There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond us all, beyond the heavens.
This is the light that shines in our hearts.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
...as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Life is no brief candle to me;  it is a sort of bright torch which I have got hold of for a moment   and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible   before handing it on to future generations.   George Bernard Shaw

We hope to inspire visitors to become candles for others who are in the earlier stages of the grieving process, to kindle the flame, spark blazes of gladness in realizing that in the "giving of light, the darkness will disappear," by becoming a light in someone else's darkness.

Ripples of Hope
From the response to this site, I have realized that one person with an idea, who is willing to follow through on that idea can make a difference and that one person can reach others.
Every person the Journey of Hearts site helps has an immeasurable ripple effect on others. For every person the site reachs, teaches and provides information as to what a grieving person may be feeling, it ultimately impacts so many more around them. Whether the visitor is the one experiencing the loss, or a friend or family member searching for information, understanding the grief process makes it easier to cope and I believe ultimately hastens the healing process. The healing cycle repeats itself as the survivors become the teachers and the healers.
 

Each time a man stands up for an ideal,    or acts to improve the life of others,    or strikes out against injustice,    he sends a tiny ripple of hope,   and those ripples, crossing each other from a million different centers of energy,    build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.      Robert F. Kennedy

...Create tiny ripples of hope from this site that will cross each other from a million different centers of energy creating a current that will sweep down the walls of oppression and ignorance of the topic of grief and loss.