For the first time in years I sat with my laptop doing some admin with breakfast TV on. I don’t know why, maybe the house just seemed too quiet. Then it all changed.

The TV programme showed an advert in support of a campaign to help lonely people in the U.K. – 1 Million Minutes. Within two minutes I was a flood of tears and a world of pain. I hadn’t realised the advert was about people who had lost love ones. Bearing in mind I cried watching an Indiana Jones movie. This took it it a whole new level. I’m still really shaky an hour later. Just thank god our son didn’t watch it. Not really sure why I’m sharing this or what I’m wittering on about. I think it probably shows the enduring power of love. Going to take the dog for a very long walk.

The video link is below.

http://youtu.be/AKLWE2bCYpQ

96 thoughts on “One Million Minutes”

      1. Thank you so much. Yes it’s not nice but you sometimes have to hit rock bottom before things change. I remember thinking once that I was like a bouncy ball that was falling. I will always fall until I hit rock bottom, that gives me the chance to start to bounce back then. But it is so so tough. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

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    1. Mine is “Wow! Look at that car! I have to remember to tell Nick when……..” and it hits again. Or when my daughter told me she’s expecting again. And how Papa won’t meet this one. I will have to watch this video when I get home.

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      1. The void fills over time. The longing likely fades but it never diminishes, as if the pattern has been permanent etched inside our heads.

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  7. After I stopped bawling, I looked for a similar anti-loneliness effort in the US. Predictably, I found reports of studies documening a huge problem of loneliness and isolation in the US, predicting dire health effects, but the only links to any coordinated national response sent me back to the UK’s program, promoted in the video. Recommence bawling.😢

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  8. Until it hits home and how it hits is different for each person, many do not understand the power of loss. It is profound in its devastation. And yet, so many of us become blessed with newfound strength to, in time, move on with our lives. I trust and hope that strength will weave its way into you and your son’s lives. A very touching video. Thank you for the tears of remembrance it brought.

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      2. It’s not sad. I think it’s life, it’s all a part of life. That’s one thing that’s certain, we’ll all go, some of us before others. It’s painful nonetheless though. God helps us through the grieving and healing process, He knows our hearts and gets us through the painful loss. We all will be united though. That’s the beauty of it all, if there’s beauty in all this – we’ll all be united to be together again. 😊🙏🏽

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  16. I got a minute of the video and turned it down. I’m am s ball of emotions these days. Could be because I’m recovering still from thyroid surgery, not sure. A very well made video, but extremely emotional. There is no right moment, no perfect timing for loss, healing, none of it. Perhaps time does heal, but we never forget. May God always comfort your heart.

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  17. This is so fantastic. I live in Canada and we have nothing like this. I went with my book Grief is… Thoughts on loss, struggle and new beginnings” to the International Death Symposium in September and there were only two of us who had written grief books. Britain’s awareness level is leaps and bounds ahead of ours. I so love this idea that I have sent the link to others in my network to see who might help me replicate some version of it here. The video is poignant, but then so is grief. It captures some of those really hard moments. Thanks so much for sharing this.

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      1. I agree who pays for what is always an issue. We too are seeing a lot of program cuts right now; medications no longer being covered that previously were, environmental programs being scrapped, and funding to organizations supporting vulnerable populations being cut. Best to stay informed and vocal. And to give thanks we live in countries where doing so is deeply entrenched.

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  19. There are still moments for me, years later, when I’m just referring to “folks” and I catch myself: Dad’s not alive. Even as the heart learns to open itself to love again–my mom is dating a very nice man–there are always days when something HITS, and HARD, and you just have to let yourself work through it. There’s no skirting. Just, moving forward because you know there are kind, good feelings waiting for you when you reach them. xxxxx

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    1. This is so true LOL. It must be a really strange feeling for you with your mum dating. I remember finding out after my mum had died that Dad had been divorced before he met mum. We had no idea about that. Man did that confuse me. Good feelings are there. I think of it as like the pot of gold and rainbow. I know people keep saying its fairy story, but the point is that if you believe in something and keep looking – who knows what happiness and adventures you will discover.

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      1. Yes, exactly so. It is strange, but he’s a genuinely nice man who cares about her, and he’s not for one hot second trying to be anything Dad was, just himself. Remembering how mom was in the first few years after Dad died and comparing it to her life now–I’m happy for her. Not everyone in our family is very supportive of this, which sucks, I think. As you’ve pointed out, NO ONE understands that kind of grief until they experience it first-hand. Witnessing Mom’s spiral, why in Hades would I want her to stay that way? God’s plans are confusing as fuck sometimes, but I can see some real good things coming from her new relationship. I know I’ll see Dad again. So I’m going to support Mom anyway I can, including in her choices right now. 🙂 xxxxxxx

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      2. I’m pleased for you mum. It’s so easy to spiral into really dark places. But equally it is still such a strange position for you. It sounds like you are doing a good job of balancing it out. All this grief and relationship stuff is not programmed into us, we don’t get any training. God I wish I had been better prepared for life. But in practice We all end up really winging it. And as you say you will see your Dad again.

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      4. I sort of feel like that with our son. I think I kept failing trying to properly comfort him, The biggest help was from himself and things like Wrestling or Animals. Maybe it’s a bit like wildfires – one brave fireman can try all he likes to dampen down the fire but really it’s not till it rains that it gets put out.

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  20. The crashing waves of sorrow will quiet down. Usually so slowly that you don’t realize that they aren’t buffeting the shoreline of your heart anymore. Soon, they will become like the lapping waters of a quiet lake – the memories will give you peace and make you smile in remembrance. It gets better. God bless.

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  21. SIGH I don’t like to cry. My husband passed away in August 2017 I was then living in Riga, Latvia and suddenly left alone in a crumbling old house. I realized I had to sell everything and head back to my homeland the US. Now I am in Daytona Beach, Florida and I dragged my cat Sid with me through 3 airports because he was all I had left from my past life and I loved him to pieces. Now he often comes to me meowing and I know even after one year has finally passed he still missed his Papa and then he makes me cry.

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