Each loss teaches:
- Patience
- That all wishes cannot be granted
Grieving teaches perspective
- Those who overreact to small incidents and losses are usually people who have never experienced catastrophe
- You can distinguish the trivial worry from significant problems
- You now respond with greater calmness than before
Grief teaches about the depth and range of feeling
- Before your loss, you probably didn’t realize the human soul was capable of so many fears, resentments and kinds of sadness
You never imagined you loved so deeply
- When you grieve you acknowledge all these deep feelings and give yourself over to them
Grieving:
- It can help you understand others more clearly
- Helps you see yourself with greater perception
Because grieving offers understanding, it helps you treasure other survivors in the family and among friends
- Friendships take on new, deeper meanings.
On the Grief Journey, you grow in other important ways
- You know more about who you are.
- You have reason to examine your identity and heritage in ways those who have not been bereaved may not. (” Who am I?” “Where are my roots?” “Where am I going?”)
- You have learned that life will not stretch out without end. Most young people imagine life offers an unlimited span for fulfilment.
- You know that quality of life is important – that length of life is only one measure.
- You know it is not too early to set goals for your body and mind.
- You are aware that the way you live now will help determine how long you will survive.
- You place a higher value on each day of your life.
- Today has more meaning because it is all one has. The future is out of reach.
- Death and loss are terrible, but being part of them shows you that you can confront and overcome difficulties
- With your courage to meet each day, you have pride and strength, and you have earned respect