| When you lose someone you love deeply there are | | | | We all know the Serenity Prayer "God, grant me the |
| lessons beyond what you could imagine. Some painful | | | | serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the |
| and heartbreaking and some humbling and heart | | | | courage to change the things I can;and the wisdom |
| opening. Every loss is an opportunity for growth | | | | to know the difference." There are many things |
| (within yourself and closer to others). No matter who | | | | beyond your control when experiencing a loss and |
| you are you will experience loss in your life. A loss of | | | | surrendering to what you cannot control allows a |
| a grandparent, of a parent, a sibling, child, pet, | | | | centering back to yourself and what it is you truly |
| spouse, friend, or relative. Loss is inevitable and | | | | need. Being still and focusing on the "here and now" |
| comes in so many forms- moving away from friends | | | | allows you an opportunity to let go of what you |
| and family, loss of a significant relationship, divorce, | | | | can't control and soften to what you can. |
| loss of a job, changes in school, a loss of physical | | | | 4. Support and love is the way through loss. |
| health, saying good-bye to someone traveling away, | | | | There is an opportunity to open your heart and be |
| or having an empty nest. Life continually is in a state | | | | vulnerable with those in your life during this process. |
| of change and loss is a part of the cycle. | | | | When you are honest and allow others to be there |
| So how can we live with grace and compassion and | | | | with you on your healing journey you create deeper |
| open to these experiences when we encounter them | | | | relationships. This has been the greatest gift in my |
| (rather than shutting down, hiding, denying, or | | | | experience and I am grateful for all those who have |
| minimizing these most important moments)? I don't | | | | lovingly offered support and understanding in this |
| have the answers, but I am in the process of | | | | time of loss. |
| learning and this is what I've discovered. | | | | 5. Find comfort in creating. |
| 1. Allow yourself to be in the feelings. | | | | During some of the most difficult times in my life I |
| People are fearful that they will become | | | | have looked to art as a balm for my soul. Art allows |
| overwhelmed with emotions if they allow themselves | | | | a soft resting place for grief. I've used the art to |
| to feel deeply. The truth is the more you ignore, | | | | honor those losses and those I have loved, as well |
| avoid, or try to push through these feelings the more | | | | as a gift for myself to help heal and nourish my soul. |
| they will drain you and overwhelm you. Embrace | | | | Here are some creative therapeutic activities you can |
| what it is you are feeling and what it is that you | | | | do to help you through loss. Knit, sew, or create |
| need so you may gracefully move through the | | | | jewelry. These activities allow you to assert control |
| experience. | | | | over the materials, provides a mediative or prayerful |
| 2. Give yourself time. | | | | experience of repetitious actions. Create a photo |
| There are stages of grief and loss and they do not | | | | collage or scrapbook as a way of processing and |
| unfold overnight. Please be gentle and kind with | | | | honoring memories. Create art from clay or cement |
| yourself and not to try to push though the process | | | | by embedding special items in the medium, or glue |
| quickly. When you honor your needs and give | | | | items on a box or candle representing your memories |
| yourself time to heal you will move forward with an | | | | and feelings. |
| open heart, knowing what is unfolding is in perfect | | | | I believe we not only need to learn from these |
| time. | | | | experience for ourselves, but also model this for our |
| 3. Allow yourself to detach from trying to control | | | | children and families. |
| circumstances and outcomes. | | | | |