“We are in Global Grief,” I recently said to a chiropractor.
Her eyes widened as she straightened up. “Really?” she asked.
“Think about it…… the ravished rain forests, glacial disintegration, and perpetual smog. Mother Earth has been grieving for decades as the climate changes.”
She leaned in to hear more.
“Now, we humans are experiencing grief following 706,000 deaths of people of all ages, genders, and colors. Grief lives in the lungs. Isn’t it interesting that COVID began as a respiratory illness?”
Sadly though, we are grief-phobic nation.
We avoid grief on all levels. That’s one of the reasons Beyond Your Grief changed to Beyond Your Loss. The word, Loss, is easier to accept and even to say aloud than the “G-word”, Grief.
Getting better at grief
So, will you join me this week in getting better at grief?
There are 167 of you who regularly open this newsletter every Sunday. Thank you!
But now it’s time to move out of the comfort of our own community. Like the chiropractor I was talking with, people are leaning in, ready to hear more.
Bring grief awareness to a larger community
Will you join me on social media in bringing awareness of grief to a larger community?
Say yes and I’ll tag you on Facebook where you can offer your input on I-Take-A-Stand Statements.
Here are two examples of statements I might post.
I stand for:
Greeting grieving people with, “How’s Your Grief?” instead of avoiding someone by going down another grocery aisle.
Agree?
Disagree?
I stand against:
Dismissing, silencing, or suppressing grief.
Agree?
Disagree?
YOU can do this
Dear community, YOU are courageous, articulate, and knowledgeable about grief. Our country needs your input.
National Grief Awareness Day is Sunday, August 30th. Turn on KATU AM Northwest on Wednesday, August 26th. I’ll be joining host Helen Raptis as a guest that day.
Please hit REPLY. Send me your ideas on what you want people to know about grief and grieving.
Love all around, above, below, to the left and to the right, before you and behind you,
Georgena
