Episode 33: The Grief Video
One certainty in life is that none of us are getting out alive...
It may sound callous, but it's true. Now, we shouldn't be feeling sad or thinking we're on the down swing of life, on the contrary, we still have so much fabulous life to live. But, we should be living each day to the fullest and making every moment count. Because, tomorrow isn't promised.
Plus, the older we get, the more likely it is that we'll be dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. This is a difficult subject and many of us would prefer to sweep it under the rug rather than address it. But, we can do hard things and difficult subject matters are worth discussing. We're all in this midlife together and the more we share, the better prepared we'll be for all things in midlife- wins and losses. That's why the topic of discussion in this week's episode of Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne is all about GRIEF.
Nothing in life is guaranteed. We can suffer loss at any age. But in midlife, as our parents and other loved ones get older, the likelihood of dealing with loss becomes greater. Dr. Lynne has lost her father and Dr. Brooke lost her mother in law several years ago to sickness. There are many lessons they learned from walking through grief together. Here are a few things to consider...
Faith is important- knowing that death isn't "goodbye" it's "see you later" is an immense comfort
If your loved one was sick, take comfort and find peace knowing that they are no longer suffering
Grief is a process- it will hit you at odd times and sometimes very suddenly. This is normal. Allow yourself to feel all the feelings. It's part of the healing process
Talk about your loved one, laugh and smile at funny memories. This keeps them close to your heart
Every first is difficult after loss. First birthday. First holiday. Etc. Be prepared and know that this is part of the grieving process.
Show up for others who have lost a loved one. Send a card. Send flowers. Leave a voicemail. Even a text is comforting. Don't be worried about saying the right thing. You won't be able to. Just showing love and support is enough.
Life isn't perfect. There will be times of struggle. You may not be able to control the world around you, but you can control how you choose to show up in the world. You can choose to grow through loss. You can choose to move forward and to live a vibrant life. For more on this topic, click the picture above to watch this week's episode of Life after Kids with Drs. Brooke and Lynne, The Grief Video. And remember, you have a choice in how you handle everything that life throws at you. You get to decide.
Life is happening for you, not to you.
-Tony Robbins
