Eternaversary. A combination of two words – eternal and anniversary.   This word would be a gift…the gift… my mother gave me to call the first anniversary of her transition to her next chapter

I was angry when she passed away and “angry” does not scratch the surface of what I felt. My grief was overshadowed by family betrayal, lies, and hatred. I despised the day she left me and visited her grave with resentment in my heart. Over time, I knew I had to get rid of this bitterness and distrust which was preventing me from being happy. But how?

My mother answered my question. She appeared to me in my dream and whispered softly “…you know exactly who you are, what you are, don’t ever forget it!” She was looking young, beautiful, happy and contented in her spirit world where peace, harmony, light and love reign. Her appearance calmed the storm raging in my heart.

The dream led me to celebrate, not grieve, her first transitional anniversary; to honour her memory and remember all the happy times we spent together. In 2018 I celebrated her first eternaversary with a newly-found happiness that reflected hope, grace, mercy and love. Knowing she was still around though not physically, helped me overcome my pain, loneliness, and bitterness.

I discovered something beautiful from this experience, and I’m sharing this with you. Our departed loved ones continue to exist in an eternal place where they look after us with unconditional love. We do not have to grieve and mourn their absence year after year after year. Instead, let us celebrate their eternal spirits and find comfort in the thought that we will be reunited with them.