18 Comments
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Wendy  Gray's avatar

Oh, this acronym WORKS! Thank you for this, for sharing while in your own space of grief. To do that is LOVE. Love on so many levels. Bless you, Cindy. (I know I am quite late to this post...but, I know this: the right things come at the right time. This was the right time for me.)

Many blessings and MUCH LOVE,

~Wendy💜

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

We all come to things when we're ready, yes? Thanks for reading and sharing! ♥️

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sandi's avatar

I love your definition of “fine.” My social worker daughter says it often means Feelings I’m Not Expressing… Which works too. Sending you lots of love!

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

I like that acronym, too! xo

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Bill Southern's avatar

Cindy, your definition of “Fine” works quite nicely.

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Yasmin Chopin's avatar

You have such a wonderful way of putting things, Cindy.

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Gabi Coatsworth's avatar

I'm pretty sure "I'm fine" means "Go away!" At least in Brit-speak...

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

Always happy for the translations! 😆

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Kathleen Reimold's avatar

This is terrific. I so love your creative thinking (brain still working) and beautiful vulnerability (heart) in sharing your true feelings.

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

The feeling is mutual ♥️

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Lynn Stobaeus's avatar

👍for the new “fine” ❣️

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Ginni Simpson's avatar

Cindy—What a wonderful piece of writing filled with comfort and information for both the hurting person and those who want to know how they’re doing. I love your redefinition of FINE.

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you. I like my definition better, too ;)

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Pat Branciforte's avatar

When I ask my sister, who lost her daughter in November, how she is, she usually responds “hanging in there.” Then, during our conversation, she might open up a bit about how she thinks about Eileen every minute of the day or she’ll bring up something funny that Eileen did. It’s all about grief!

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

Every single day. ♥️

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Ginni Simpson's avatar

I first heard FINE in 1984, spoken by a nun during a training for working with dying and grieving people. Ever since, I’ve often shared it with clients so they’d have a way to speak their truth rather than hide what they really feel.

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Lola Gilligan's avatar

I wasn't even going to read this essay (after recently losing my brother), but I'm glad I did. You did an admirable job of describing loss and grief. (When people ask me how I'm doing, I just reply, "I'm okay, but it sucks." It's obviously honest, and no one has ever argued with me.)

Best of luck to you as you soldier on...

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Cindy Eastman's avatar

Thank you. I appreciate your reading it and letting me know. I'm so sorry for your loss. ♥️

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