Walking Through Grief

This weekend, in keeping with the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, I was honored to walk with several people in grief. What diverse losses bring us into the grief process!

A widow told me that day would have been her 50th wedding anniversary and shared some favorite memories of her marriage.

A young woman lost her mom just a few weeks ago and is surprised at “how well” she is doing. I suspect that shock is protecting her from the full impact of losing the mom she described as her best friend.

Another woman, widowed many years ago and now remarried reflected on the residual grief that now is ready to be resolved.

Brand new grief generates acute pain. But losses from long ago can still pop up, wanting to be addressed and released.

Mourning may last a year or two, but grief is the entire process of coming to terms with the loss of someone dear to us. Don’t be surprised if a loss from long ago resurfaces with a new loss, a change of seasons, or even a holiday. It might just mean you are ready to walk with it again and do more healing.