The sun is shining, the grass is getting greener, the snow is almost all gone and there are even buds on some of our trees. Spring! A wonderful time of year when we feel renewed and energized. We all love spring right?
Simply put, no we don’t all love spring. For some of us spring is a time of year that can magnify our grieving. We see the absence of our person everywhere we look.
“We always did the yard work together.”
“We are usually planning our camping trips now.”
“She loved her flowers. I don’t know if I will be able to keep the garden.”
“We always went to Mom’s house for Easter dinner.”
These are just some of the things we hear in our groups.
So, as you get ready for Easter and get ready for spring, allow yourself to feel what you need to feel. We miss our people. Give yourself permission to feel some of that sadness, or to feel some of that frustration. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Our society says that we should be over our grief in a very short period of time. This is not true. Our grief will ebb and flow. There are some events that can make it feel more intense, or even just more present. At these times, it is important to give ourselves the grace to be human.
Instead of pushing our grief away, perhaps you can find a way to let it be here. Is there a ritual that you can create? Can you spend some time with your family remembering your person? Perhaps you can write a letter or even just listen to some favorite music.
As spring arrives, honor yourself and your feelings and honor your person. We grieve because we love.
As always – Be Gentle
Denise Torgerson
Community Programs
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