Grief is an endless procession of acknowledgements that the one you love is no longer here to share your physical life. At first it punches you right in the stomach - BAM! – as hard as you’ve ever imagined being hit. You can’t believe you’re still standing. Movement takes on an underwater quality, and your feet feel mired in molasses. Everyday activity swirls around you, but you are almost completely unplugged from the world. You spend your time wondering how this precious one could slip away. After some time, your days become normal again, but it’s a new kind of normal, one that you don’t like at all. Many people don’t ever mention your loss, and this hurts almost as much as the loss itself. A few people want to become over-involved in your “healing.” And you thank God each day for those wonderful souls who actually help you to function. The boss who understands your need to leave the office for a good cry; the acquaintance who brings over a whole dinner for the family; the children who want to take your hurt away just as you used to try to heal their boo-boos with kisses.

There's a new movement in psychology -- instead of concentrating on the negative feelings things that make people sad, depressed, or angry, some psychologists are now looking at what makes people happy. These "positive psychologists" have determined that there is a difference between actions that just make us feel good (i.e. eating your favorite food) and selfless actions that make you feel good by doing good (i.e. giving blood). To get the whole story, check out this article in the New York Times Magazine, Happiness 101 .