It’s about trying to find that balance. Some days the sadness of missing someone is too heavy to feel the blessing of knowing them. Other days, the grief feels abit lighter and it’s easier to feel gratitude and the warmth of their love. The important thing to remember is that it’s ok to have a change in that balance throughout your grief journey. Just like the changes in balance we felt within the relationship shared with our loved one when they were on earth.
We love them still and remember them always.
Be kind to yourself this Sunday evening
Self-care
Self-care is so important in grief. It’s important to acknowledge when your heart hurts and things feel that bit more heavy. Practice some self-care this Sunday night, do something for you.
Grieving is a journey, filled with many emotions. It’s hard to believe in the midst of it that your heart could ever be ‘hopeful and happy again’. In fact, at times that thought feels impossible. However, with the right support you can remember your loved one in many beautiful ways. Grief ebbs and flows, some days it’s the undercurrent and others it’s a crashing wave. Use self-care on the days when the waves are too hard to manage.
Ideas for self-care:
Spend some time alone
Go for a walk, swim, run, cycle
Read a chapter of a book
Listen to music
Make a memory box for your loved one
Reminisce on memories of your loved one / take time to sit with your grief
Take a nap
Catch-up with your friends
Put your to-do-list to the side
The list is endless, it’s about finding what works best for you in your grief.
Some Friday Thoughts...
Don’t let anyone tell you how to grieve. Don’t let them say ‘you should be over that by now’ or ‘it’s time to move on’.
You never have to move on from the loss of your loved one. You only move forward, bringing the love and memories made together alongside you.
Grief changes over time and so do we. The fact is that we will feel grief for the rest of our lives, as grief is the price we pay for love. Love doesn’t end because that special person has died.
Take care this weekend, listen to your mind and body. Spend time remembering your loved one in a way that feels right for you.
What is hope?
Hope is finding the strength to get out of bed on a Monday morning to face the week ahead. Hope is being a point down in the final with only 5 minutes to go. Hope is walking into an exam with the feeling that you haven't revised enough.
The definition for hope is - "a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen." Everyday, whether we are aware of it or not each one of us are hopeful for something. Whether it is something small like hoping it doesn't rain or whether it is something huge like hoping the test results come back clear. Hope is the driving force that keeps us going, having hope is so important. Having hope in something keeps us focused and determined on our journey's throughout life, hope helps us fight the battles life may throw at us and helps us stay positive and optimistic.
If you're ever feeling down and feel that you have no hope left, think of these 4 words. This is how hope can make you feel:
H - Happiness
O - Optimistic
P - Peaceful
E - Excited
Let us know what hope means to you! We would love to hear from you!
Jane, HopeAgain Web Consultant.
Coping throughout the year.
Every year there are always a number of special events like birthdays, anniversaries, sports finals, weddings etc. Celebrating these milestones without a loved one can make these special days, which were once a very happy and exciting time, sad and the feeling of dread lingers over you as you approach them. As the new year is in full swing, try to think of these days as a chapter of your adventure through life. Take your loved one on the journey with you and let them guide you through it. By thinking like this, it will help you to look forward to these events and not dread them.
By enjoying yourself you are not forgetting the person, you are simply remembering them in a different way and you should not feel guilty for enjoying yourself!
