KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and SportsA woman's journey through grief toward healing

A woman's journey through grief toward healing

ROCHESTER,MN (KTTC-DT)- When tragedy strikes, it is usually unexpected and the grief can feel unbearable.

One Rochester woman knows the sting of loss first-hand and is using her experience to help others heal.

Harriet Hodgson makes a living doing what she loves and knows best: writing. She has written a few dozen books. Her work has received the accolades of former first lady, Barbara Bush.

"I asked permission to give her copies of my Alzheimer's books," says Hodgson.  "I think security checked me out a little bit and I gave the books to her and several months later, I received a thank-you note."

But little did Harriet know that writing would be the one thing to get her through life's darkest moments; a period of unbearable heartbreak that began in February of 2007.

"My daughter was killed in a car crash on a snowy evening," says Hodgson. "That was Friday. On Sunday, my father-in-law succumbed to pneumonia at the age of 98-and-a-half. 5 months later, my brother died of cancer and then a few months later in November, my son-in-law was killed in a separate car crash."

Harriet turned to her computer and began to journal through the intense emotions. Some days the words did not want to come, but she stuck with it...writing about her pain. Writing about her precious memories.

"Nothing brought Dad more pleasure than having dinner with his family. He often took us out to dinner at his favorite restaurant."

Harriet is reading from her book "Writing to Recover." She hopes it will help others work through their pain, beginning with the cover.

"The empty chair could be your lost loved one or the writer who is doing the journal and then you've got the waves of life rolling in. The cloudy skies with a patch of blue. The blue is hope."

Harriet says that writing can help through the loss of a loved one, a marriage..even a home or job. She offers these tips to get started.

"Just sit down and start writing. Be yourself. Don't worry if you're not a writer. Everyone has a story to tell. Some experts say write for 15 minutes a day. If you are so overwhelmed, try ten, try 5, try one minute. And if you cant' even do that, try one word. I did that one day."

The key is to try.

"By golly there are things you can do to hep yourself because we all wish someone could recover from grief for us. But in the end, its up to you."

"The best way to honor my loved ones is to enjoy each day and what I do. I know my daughter, father-in-law and brother would not want me to get mired in grief. Life is too precious for that."