Comfortdoc on Squidoo

I’ve updated the Anniversary Reaction - When Remembering Isn’t Always a Happy Occasion lens today on the 11th Anniversary of the unexpected death of Princess Diana.

Her death in 1997 was one of the final factors that inspired me to create the Journey of Hearts website to educate people about grief and loss.

It is interesting to me that in a relatively short period of time starting at the end of August within the span of just a few weeks we experience the Anniversaries of several major deaths:

* The 3rd year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (August 29, 2005)
* The 11th year anniversary of the death of Princess Diana (August 31, 1997)
* The 2nd year anniversary of the death of Steve Irwin (Sept 4, 2006)
* The 11th year anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa (September 5, 1997)
* The 7th year of September 11th (Sept 11, 2002)

Anniversary dates of a tragic event, the actual date of the death, the birth date of a loved one, holidays or other special occasions are common triggers for an Anniversary reaction or a grief response. An Anniversary reaction or response is a sudden unexpected rush of memories, intense emotions and feelings of grief.

I believe that the more people understand about grief and the normal response, the easier it will be for them to manage grief following a major loss. This holds true for the Anniversary Response.

Photo Source: Brian Lary. Blue Flame. Royalty Free Use.

I’ve updated two lenses related to different types of activities occurring in the month of September.

Remember September Mail Art Project

The Remember September Mail Art Project is now in it’s seventh year of remembering those who had died on September 11, 2001.

This creative, commemorative mail art project was developed by Gail Ellspermann in 2002.

Through the use of art, participants are encouraged to express their feelings and reflect on the September 11th attacks, the heroes, the victims, their patriotism and how everyone’s lives had changed. This project is an excellent example of using creativity to cope with a major life changing event.

Find out more about the project, see some of the examples and discover how to participate in the project and make your own mail art on the lens page.

Steptember

September is America On the Move’s national month long celebration highlighting the benefits of active living and healthy eating. Steptember is A Celebration of Being Active and Healthy Eating.

The goal of Steptember is to get everyone to experience how small, simple changes can add up to a healthier lifestyle and healthy weight for life.

Find out how you can get involved with Steptember on the lens.

Image Source: Remember September 2004. Collection of Submissions.

I am please to report that the Healthy School Fundraisers lens was this week’s Favorite Giant Squid Lens. The lens was developed as one of the lenses for the Squidoo Activist’s Virtual Bake Sale. I was inspired to look for healthier alternatives so did one lens on Healthy School Fundraisers and a second lens on Healthy Bake Sale Options.

Having the Healthy School Fundraisers lens featured is perfect timing with everyone going back to school at the end of the month it is perfect timing for this lens to be featured.

I am hoping that a lot of parents will read through the lens and start “thinking outside of the box” for fundrasiers this year.

The We Can Solve It lens was judged to by the community to be the winning Giant Squid Community Showcase Lens for the week.

According to the blog,

This weeks winning lens in the Choose Your Favorite Giant Lens Contest is We Can Solve It by Comfortdoc. The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection and Kirsti has done an amazing job showcasing this charity.

Her lens includes numerous videos that champion the environment, I especially like the one from Al Gore. The We Can Solve it lens donates to the Squidoo Charity Fund, Global Giving and Earthjustice.

Thanks guys for helping spread the word.

In addition, “We Can Solve It” was the one of the recipients of the Squids Choice Award for the Month of July where the theme was “Going Green” along with my other green related lens Save Energy - You Have the Power.

Ever use the Polaroid Module and have the image turn out not quite right? I have. I kept looking for a lens on how to use the Polaroid Module and finally decided to do one.

I had a lot of fun with the Three Bears in explaining what to do to get the Polaroid Module, “Just Right.”

For me one of the main benefits of the Polaroid Module is that you can upload a large image easily and quickly without needing to use or know any HTML.

The lens also includes several other fun examples with ways of making a Polaroid-style image online as well as information for the graphic gurus for making a Polaroid-style image from scratch.

This page was created for the Squidoo Answer Deck.

Today, August 3 is the last day to enter your Virtual Concert in the Virtual Concert Week Series.

Getting involved is simple:

1. Pick a Group
2. Pick a Charity
3. Stage a Virtual Concert

I’ve got a Virtual Concert lens, now what?

1. Submit your lens to the Virtual Concert Group, the Bands that Give Back and if you are an Activist to the Squidoo Activist Group.
2. Get in touch with a Squidoo Activist and have them submit the lens to Anne.
3. Submit your lens to the Add Your Virtual Concert to the List Plexo (Note that the plexo is a bit wiggy this morning, but add it anyway.)
4. Visit the other Virtual Concerts that other people have created, rate them, favorite them and leave a message.

More about the Virtual Concert Week Contest
The Squidoo Activists are raising money again this time it is a Virtual Concert Series. Find out more about making your Virtual Concert lens by visiting the Virtual Concert Week on Squidoo lens.

Note: If your lens is just published today, you won’t be able to get it added to the Virtual Concert Series Group, but be sure that it gets added tomorrow.