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Tailwinds of Hope Family and Board Members memorial crash site

Inspiration Letters-The Zachary Michael Capra Foundation

The Takeoff- December 2022

Inspirational Letters:

Death is an unavoidable aspect of the human condition and while the impact of grief is inevitably felt, its effects are tangible. When my husband of 25 years died at the age of 59 after two diagnosis of rare blood diseases, a stem cell transplant and a bone marrow transplant, griefs tenacles found their way into my life with a vengeance. In the beginning, getting off the couch for short periods of time, were all I was capable of. But as time went on and the fog cleared just a bit, I began to find solace in an unsuspected place. My garden. It should not have surprised me as I have spent a good part of my career in the field of horticultural therapy education and touting the restorative power of the garden. But when it came to my own grief it was still a surprise to me that the mere action of putting my hands in the dirt, smelling new growth, and clearing away the leaves to see bulbs begging to spring forth, all gave me joy. What an unexpected feeling while moving through grief. It all goes back to the hope that every gardener knows is possible when you plant a seed. The hope that in time it will grow.

It's that hope that is one of the reasons horticultural therapy (HT) works. Simply stated, horticultural therapy is using plants and plant activities to foster healing and well-being in a variety of settings. As a modality, HT is used in many places, including in hospice settings and grief groups around the country. 

What is it that makes the act of gardening a good choice for those who are grieving? David Kamp, a landscape architect who designs therapeutic landscapes for health care facilities, states that "nature helps to restore a sense of well-being, re­duces stress, fosters dignity and offers a sense of hope and promise by virtue of its power to produce memorable experiences, powerful and positive feelings, and a sense of connectedness to the world around us" (Kamp, 1996).

It's that sense of being connected to something bigger than ourselves that can help root us at a time of great disconnectedness. Practically speaking a variety of horticultural-based activities can be used in clarifying feelings and expressing emotion. Plants & flowers have powerful symbolic meanings that vary with different cultures. The uniqueness of the grieving ritual involving plant material is an inherent connection with both life and death and the life cycle of the plant provides us with a metaphorical framework for contextualizing death that is illustrative and meaningful. Live plant material can also bring innate feelings of peace and contentment as we appreciate its sensual beauty. According to an article, Healing Grief Through Horticultural Therapy, HT activities used to facilitate healing emotions can serve to transform the mourning process. Participation in a grieving ritual can offer a dimension of comfort while it encourages a crucial step towards the resolution of grief (Mars 1999).

For me, actively clearing the garden and making way for new plants, new growth, was an act of faith and helped me to find a way forward. 

Please continue to check back monthly to gain insight from various members of Zachary's team sharing memories and topics close to our hearts.     


See below in the Archive section to view letters from the past. 

Photo Gallery Tailwinds of Hope Non Profit

Tailwinds of Hope Newsletter Grief Article
Tailwinds of Hope Newsletter Grief Picture
Tailwinds of Hope- Memorial Torah Wing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Religious Center

Archive

Tailwinds of Hope Non Profit Inspiration Letters

The Takeoff December 2022- Christine Capra (docx)Download
The Takeoff March 2021- Rev David Keck (docx)Download

Archive

 Inspirational Letters

Welcome to Tailwinds of Hope- Zachary Michael Capra Memorial Foundation (pdf)Download
The Takeoff November 2019- Candice Capra (pdf)Download
The Takeoff December 2019- John and Patsy Capra (pdf)Download
The Takeoff January 2020 - Greg and Robin Capra & Michelle Novak (pdf)Download
The Takeoff February 2020 - Michelle & Ron Colaizzi (pdf)Download
The Takeoff March 2020 - Steven Reynolds (pdf)Download
The Takeoff April 2020 - John & Patsy Capra (pdf)Download
The Takeoff May 2020 - Alex & Jalissa Nelson (pdf)Download
The Takeoff July 2020 - Mikey Rosen (pdf)Download
The Takeoff August 2020 - Bobby & Laura Nelson (pdf)Download
The Takeoff June 2020- Dan & Kris Radisewitz (pdf)Download
The Takeoff September 2020 - Janon and Doug Swink (pdf)Download
The Takeoff October 2020 - Nick Cullison (pdf)Download
The Takeoff November 2020 - Reggie Caldwell (pdf)Download
The Takeoff January 2021 - Grandma Carolyn (pdf)Download

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