Today I want to talk about grief. Perhaps it is because I am growing older, but death seems to be coming closer. I was very fortunate to have all four of my grandparents until my mid-thirties. I now have two grandparents surviving, but they are both old and ill. My aunts, uncles and cousins still survive, although that is a whole other story currently unfolding. Death evaded me and my family for many years, only taking those that were elderly and had lived a good, long life.

It was a shock last week to learn of the death of someone younger, a parent of a close friend. That hit me very hard, not least because I want to support my friend. It was unexpected, quite sudden, and traumatic for those involved.

We now need to process our feelings, and yet normal life carries on. The world hasn’t ended. It just feels a bit empty, now that one of its lights has been extinguished. Does that make sense to you?

Shock and Sadness

I know that some of you reading this will have experienced grief and bereavement already. You might be experiencing it right now, and if you are, I send love and healing energy to aid in your emotional processing. We cannot escape grief. But we must learn to continue everyday life while feeling it. Our children need care and attention. Our work must continue. My friend faces a long and complicated legal process for various reasons, but she has people around her to help, myself included.

There are no words to express how I feel about this bereavement. I knew my friend’s mother. I spent time at their house, I attended family parties, I felt comfortable in her presence. I am very sad to hear of her death. And I feel even more sad for my friend who just lost her mother. We are here for you, C. Lots of love.

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