This week on Intent, we want to hear your ideas on dealing with death, loss and tragedy. As human beings, our existence on this earth is extremely finite. And yet, in spite of this inescapable fact, many of us have a difficult time accepting this idea, sometimes even to the point of downright denying or rejecting it.
Indeed, there are no road maps for the grieving process. It is a singular experience that takes as long as it needs to. Some of us, however, may have pearls of wisdom they would like to share for the rest of us. What is the kindest gesture someone can do for a friend or a loved one dealing with loss? What resources, prayers, meditations, support groups, books, activities, rituals and websites exist for someone who is completely new to the grieving process? How can we learn better to comfort ourselves and each other?
Here are several blog posts from our Intent Voice bloggers who have written on this topic:
Dreamwork as a Healing Path Through Grief and Loss By Julie Lange
Lessons in Loving While My Father Was Dying By Jason Mannino
5 Ways to Heal Grief: One Couple’s Heartwrenching Story By Ed & Deb Shapiro
As we are all interconnected on this journey of life, we invite all of you on Intent to share your individual experiences, stories, advice and ideas on dealing with loss and healing grief–something which all of us sooner or later must face.
Join Intent’s mission this week to share ideas and perspectives on dealing with life’s losses. Tag your blog posts "dealing with loss" and we will be featuring the best weekly content at the end of the week. If you simply want to share a short response in the comments below, we would love to hear that as well.
I began writing at 18, on the day my dog was killed, in the summer my parents divorced, but it wasn't until my mother's death twenty years later, that my writing became an act of healing. Once my friend, my mother became my muse. I've written countless stories around the gift and pain of my mother's passing–and I recently began a blog to begin collect that writing in one place: http://themotherlessmuse.wordpress.com
I posted in my blog about dealing with the suicide of a beloved friend. I would have to say dealing with the loss was one of the most difficult and horrifying things I've ever had to deal with. It really and truly is a day at a time process, but my mantra during the (still) healing process has been "I choose life". Hiding the emotions, burying the grief, is a moot point. You don't bury stuff like this and it be over, you genuinely have to work through it, and walk through it. Time does make you more able to deal with the grief, but you have to be careful to not let the grief become your ally~for me it has had to be a process worked through, one of letting go. I still miss him everyday, but I would never wish this kind of grief on my worst enemy. It now is not a timed process, steps to go through, it's a life process.
I lost my mother on Aug, 2 this year. My mom was a prescription drug addict most of my life. I have memories of her hiding her meds in my pillow case while I was sleeping to hide them from my stepfather. My brother, who was my primary caregiver was killed in a car accident in 1974, I was 13. My mother had also lost twins and another baby boy in infancy. I am the only sibling left.
My mother died of lung cancer, she was 71,she also had chronic copd so treatment for her was not an option. Her main concern through her illness was the narcotics that she would receive. I am not wrining this to make anyone feel bad for me. I am wriningt this to let people know, that through all this muck and sadness in my life I have emerged with a deep love of god and a light inside me that gets brighter everyday. I have forgiven my mom , as she had a deep illness and pain that i could never imagine. She gave me life , and that is pretty wonderful
Thank you for the opportunity to share my story, this site means more than you know, as do all of you
love toni
I wrote a wonderful blog on my own regarding death, where I share my thoughts. I hope you'll check it out. http://www.thoughts.com/timberwolf123/blog/death-…
Bill