"GRIEF IS A JOURNEY
Dr, Donna J. Mann
Grief is a natural and normal response to a significant loss. Everyone grieves differently. No two experiences are alike. You will not grieve like anyone else. Your experience will be your own. No one will know exactly how you feel. It will be up to you to tell them.
Grief is a journey. There is a definite beginning. You go through it to get through it. It is similar to making a decision to go hiking, walking or running. You put on the boots, tie the straps or laces. You realize it's going to be an upward climb. You move according to your individual experience and your personal relationship. The journey is yours to walk, grow and develop as you make your way around the obstacles, over the potholes and through the passages of time. Sometimes the journey seems endless, most times exhausting but always moving towards a goal of remembering without the present pain and suffering.
Perhaps there is homework you will want to do with yourself. "Feel it and you'll heal it" is a catchy phrase to give permission to reflect. Go back to any unresolved feelings that may be lurking. Feelings surface every day masked in unidentified emotions, attitudes and actions. It's helpful to know what part of self you are dealing with. "Did this come out of my anger?" "Did this happen because of my feelings of helplessness?"
Your journey doesn't have to be one sided. Others join you in your walk as you invite them. They listen as you tell and retell your story in the market place, over a cup of coffee or on your morning walk. Because others do not always know what to say, whether to mention the name or the circumstance or to have visible pictures - it is often up to you to open up the conversation and mention your loved one's name. Seek out those who are comfortable talking about grief. Bring library books on grief to your favourite chair. Watch videos to learn from other's experiences. Journal your thoughts and name your emotions. Faces of grief have many characteristics, when you name them - you've begun to resolve them. ===================
