Sarah Hines
VISIT MY WEBSITEhttps://www.griefadvocacy.com/
I met a man one blurry night in Manhattan, and little did I know, he would be the soil in which my passion for grief work was to be planted. He had been rejected by his family for his life choices and was preparing for death without them. Helping him through his struggle to come to terms with his love for them and in turn his forgiveness while going through treatments, rejection, and coming to terms with his own death and grief was an unimaginable amount of stress and it literally set me in activism mode. It was shortly after his death, I completed training in Palliative Care Home Hospice. I volunteered in men’s homes for 5 years before the medications became reliable and being gay wasn’t always breaking family ties. Some of the most amazing times I have had in my life have been in the homes of dying. Strange, yes.. but so beautifully honest and raw. I then completed the Children’s Palliative Care Training and dove into the heartbrokenness of dying children. It is in these years I really came to understand just how fickle death can be and how much we embrace death and our grief. It seems that in times of what we would consider the most unimaginable, we are able to find glimmers of beauty, cracks of light and the nourishment in tears. Over the last 20 years, I have carried on with my education in a variety of ways including Coach and Leadership Training, Orphan Wisdom School and Grief Groups. My connection into corporate grief has been slow. It’s something that most organizations do not want to think about. I am inspired by those that see value in bringing grief work into the way they lead teams through uncertainty and the trust this work builds.
ENJOY MY PUBLISHED ARCHIVES
The First Steps of Designing a Bereavement Process: Let’s Get Real About Grief at Work
"It's not about creating the perfect policy – it's about building something that recognizes grief as a normal part of life that requires flexibility and understanding." ...
Men’s Mental Health: Mitch Marner Deserves Better
"Supporting mental health means fostering a culture of compassion and understanding. Constructive criticism is part of the game, but it should never cross the line into personal attacks." ...
The Radical Act of Going Slow
"By introducing a sense of slowness in the way we move, we are in fact, reserving energy for what we are experiencing and cultivated a sense of care not only for ourselves but for those around us." ...
Bereavement Leave: Stripping Away Restrictions for Real Support
"An inclusive bereavement leave policy demonstrates a company's commitment to its most valuable asset—its people." ...
When Grief Feels Ambiguous and Enormous
"It's no wonder why in the midst of the world of chaos, we find ourselves in, I am often met with cries from heart-centred folks - "I feel so lost, so powerless - what is there for me to do?" ...
Embracing Resolution When Forgiveness Eludes Us
"We reflect on what wrongs we have committed and what wrongs have been committed to us and we try to find something that we can forgive." ...
Navigating the Depths of Grief: A Journey of Healing and Growth
"Let us walk this path together – acknowledging the depths of grief, embracing the healing power of pleasure, and ultimately, discovering the growth and transformation that await us on the other side." ...
The Importance of Workplace Rituals for Employee Well-being
"By prioritizing consistency, choice, and intentionality, organizations can create meaningful rituals that will keep employees engaged and energized." ...
Desire is an Inside Job
"Taking ownership of your own desires requires self-awareness, courage, and a willingness to take action." ...
How Do I Start Trusting Myself?
"Building trust in yourself is a process that requires self-reflection, self-awareness, and consistent effort." ...