As you get older, you learn a lot about life. Your perspectives change, your interests change, and you just become a lot more enlightened about the world in general.
But one mindset change that we were absolutely not prepared for was one that we had been rejecting our entire life. We tried to stay strong. We tried to look for any other possible explanation. But there’s just no getting around it… It turns out that after years and years of denying it, our mothers were pretty much right about everything. That’s right. All those years of our mothers telling us to tie our shoes, make our beds and to write thank you notes? They knew what they were talking about. And when they told us that you should always send flowers to show your support when someone passes away? It turns out they were right about that too. A number of studies have come out over the last few years that only confirm the things that our mothers have been telling us for years… when it comes to hard days and grief, flowers actually have healing powers that can turn your day around and cheer you up. Here are just a few statistics and facts that back up what your mom has said from day one… you should always send flowers to a funeral. 1. People Respond With True Smiles When You Give Them Flowers Flowers are just one of those gifts that everyone likes to receive. We know that. But according to Rutgers University Researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., director of the university’s Human Emotions Lab, flowers actually elicit the truest of smiles on recipients faces, even over other types of gifts. And we’re not just talking about a slight grin… every participant in the 10 month study expressed “true” or “excited” smiles when receiving flowers, demonstrating extraordinary delight and gratitude. “Flowers have evolved to activate positive emotional responses from people,” says Haviland-Jones. “Each bloom has the potential to put a smile on our face and sway our opinion of a friend, colleague or loved one. That’s powerful.” And who needs a smile on their face more so than someone who is facing a difficult hardship in life? 2. Flowers Create Instant Delight and Happiness Flowers don’t just create a smile when they are given to friends or family members. They actually create instant delight and happiness, according to the same Rutgers study. This is because they remind us of the beauty of the world and the feeling of being connected with nature and the outdoors, where many of us have fond memories. Flowers can also reportedly increase the enjoyment and life satisfaction of those who receive them, for the same reason. So if you were starting to doubt whether or not sending flowers actually makes a difference when sending them to a funeral visitation or service, just remember that not only are they a kind symbol of support when someone is going through a difficult time, but they also help to bring happiness and comfort to unfamiliar places. And what kind of environment needs this more than a funeral home? During a time of unease, discomfort and unfamiliarity, families could use a little more delight and happiness in their lives. 3. Flowers Lead To Stronger Relationships Between Family and Friends While we all know that flowers are a positive presence in life, you may not realize that they go beyond just sparking feelings of happiness. Studies have shown that sending and receiving flowers can actually help to forge personal connections with the people in our lives, and lead to increased contact with family and friends. According to a study of 370 participants led by Dr. Richard Ryan, being exposed to flowers and nature can inspire more compassion, generosity and an overall sense of community. Within the study it was noted that spending time around flowers and plants actually helped to change people’s attitudes, better connecting them with their authentic selves and with the world as a whole. As a result, it was also found that they were much more concerned with the needs of others around them and more generous. “Gift recipients experience compelling connections with givers, and the positive link is particularly evident in the exchange of flowers,” says Ryan. “In my everyday work with individuals, CEOs and leadership teams at some of the world’s top global companies, I see the powerful implications of gratitude and appreciation.” This is a great insight for people looking to express support and sympathy during a loss, because in that time period more than ever, people seek the comfort and connection of friends and family. Even in the months and years following the loved one’s passing, sending flowers may be the small gesture that is needed to make sure that your loved one knows you are still thinking of them, supporting them and are there for them… even if you are no longer actively seeing them at funeral events. 4. Flowers Create A Positive Mood That Lasts For Days One of the most amazing aspects of giving flowers is that the magic healing effects that they bring to your mood and your relationships don’t just last during the moments that you are in the presence of a beautiful bouquet. Studies have found that, upon receiving a gift of flowers, participants responded with true smiles and reported positive moods that lasted for days, meaning that these fresh, beautiful arrangements had a long term impact on their mood and happiness. Researchers also found that even after the first few days of happiness and euphoria had worn off after receiving flowers, people still reported ongoing improvements in mood and outlook. In fact, people who stated that they typically suffered from conditions such as depression and anxiety reported a lessening of their symptoms in the days after receiving a bouquet of flowers.
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5/19/2017 0 Comments "We Salute our Veterans"The Meaning of Memorial Day
Since the earliest ceremonies in small American towns following the Civil War, we have gathered on Memorial Day to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. As in those early days of laying wreaths and placing flags, our national day of remembrance is often felt most deeply among the families and communities who have personally lost friends and loved ones. This national holiday may also be the unofficial start of the summer season, but all Americans must take a moment to remember the sacrifice of our valiant military service members, first responders and their families. Memorial Day is a day of both celebration and grief, accounting for the honor of our heroes and reflecting on their tragic loss. “Here at the Capitol, just weeks before the end of the Civil War, a weary President Lincoln pleaded with his fellow citizens, to ’bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.’” - General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.) Civil War soldiers had been mustered from towns and villages across the land. Like today, the loss of each soldier was a profound tragedy for both family and community. Today, we honor service members from all of America’s past wars. But there is immediacy in our sorrow; the wounds of war are new again. As we struggle for ways to heal, Abraham Lincoln’s message of almost 150 years ago can still inspire us. This, then, is the mission of Memorial Day: to reach out in support of all the soldiers and their families who have sacrificed so much for us. Throughout America’s history, hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens have died bravely serving our country. The number of battle deaths speak to the sacrifices our soldiers and their families have made. 5/14/2017 0 Comments A Special Message on Mother's DayThis post isn’t to take away from the joy of those celebrating or being celebrated this Mother’s Day – enjoy and make the most of your time with the people you love. But for those of you who are in the shadow-side of Mother’s Day because your mother has died, or, because your child has died, let’s talk, this post is for you. If your mom has died …Well, you will get through, you will. You may feel alone in it, so let me encourage you to invite her in to the day. Find ways of reminding yourself of her, embracing the person she was, and allowing yourself the time and space to be happy and sad, memory-filled and nostalgic.
Sons & daughters, moms & dads, these pains are tremendous and deserve so much more than a little blog could ever offer. I wish all of you a day brimming with memories, peace, and the comfort of being loved. May your Mother’s Day be meaningful and rich in the memories of those you are missing.... 5/10/2017 0 Comments "We Make It Personal"If you are in the midst of planning a funeral, you may be feeling overwhelmed right now. Many details must be attended to. Many people must be contacted. Many decisions must be made. Your natural and necessary feelings of grief make these tasks even more difficult.
Still, we encourage you to slow down, take a deep breath and focus on what is really important—what is essential—about the funeral you are planning. What is essential is the life that was lived and the impact that life had on family and friends. To honor that unique life, the funeral must also be unique. Over and over families tell me that the best funerals are those that are personalized. Consider the unique life of the person who has passed away. As you begin to think about personalizing the funeral, turn your thoughts to your memories of the person who died. Think about his or her qualities and what he or she meant to others. Consider his or her passions, hobbies, pastimes, likes, dislikes. You might try making a list of the following:
Personalize the elements of ceremonyOnce you’ve given thought to the unique life and personality of the person who died, it’s time to incorporate those memories into the funeral plan. Be creative as you, together with your family, friends, our funeral director and the person who will lead the service, brainstorm how to remember and honor this special person. A good way to personalize the funeral is to personalize the common elements of funeral ceremonies:
The eulogy is especially importantWhen personalized, the eulogy is perhaps the most memorable and healing element of the funeral ceremony. Also called the remembrance, the eulogy is the speech during the funeral ceremony that talks about the life and character of the person who died. The eulogy acknowledges the unique life of the person who died and affirms the significance of that life for all who shared in it. The eulogy can be delivered by a clergyperson, a family member or a friend of the person who died. Instead of a traditional eulogy delivered by one person, you may choose to ask several people to speak and share their memories. There is also a growing trend toward having people attending the funeral stand up and share a memory of the person who died. More ideas for personalizing a funeral serviceThe funeral service you have should be as special as the life you will be remembering. Here are a few more ideas:
A final wordWe hope you have been encouraged in your efforts to create a personalized funeral ceremony. While it may seem overwhelming right now, I promise you this: a well-planned, inclusive, personalized funeral will touch your family, the friends of the person who died and you yourself deeply. The funeral will help you begin to heal and will provide you with great comfort and satisfaction in the months and years to come. 5/9/2017 0 Comments "We Make It Personal""We all have many common characteristics, interests, commonalities, and passions in life, but it is our differences that truly make us unique as individuals." Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Homes specializes in planning services that are as unique as a life lived. We have created this blog because "We Make It Personal". We want to inspire you in ways that help you to create a service that is meaningful and reflective of the unique life created and lived by your loved one. Personalization has resulted in many unique services and options that reflect the hobbies, passions and interests of someone who has passed away. Through personalization, our staff of professionals strives to help you create funeral services, memorial services, and celebrations of life that are meaningful and reflect your family member's life. Please take a moment to look through our galleries of personalization ideas that have been created in the past. Click on the link below for a preview of Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Homes' Personalization Suite. johnsonbrown.weebly.com/ We will add new features, ideas, and articles as we continue to develop and create new ideas and options for you. |
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March 2020
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