TIMESLEDGER | 32 QNS.COM | FEB. 21-27, 2020
Prescription for
your grief relief
“Oh to be a stone! To feel no grief!”
The Greek dramatist Euripides
wrote these words 400 years before the
birth of Christ.
Grief is the price of love. When we
love someone and they die, we feel the
pain of grief. However, there are steps
we can take that may ease the stress
and hasten our recovery.
Here are some tips that can help
the bereaved on their journey through
grief:
Go back to work. If you had a job,
return as soon as possible. Work is a
healthy distraction from the pain of
loss. If you were not in the workplace,
find a job.
Stay fit. Exercise can help you both
physically and emotionally because activity
provides an outlet for stress.
Enroll in a class. Not only does taking
a class provide you with a healthy
diversion from grief but it also can supply
practical knowledge for improving
the quality of your life.
Be good to yourself. Do not hesitate
to treat yourself to something you
truly enjoy.
Take some time to write down
a list of things that bring you pleasure
such as displaying a vase of
fresh flowers, gardening, leisurely
reading a newspaper, etc. Then, try
to engage in at least one of these activities
daily.
Volunteer your time. Another effective
way to get out of the house and
provide some grief relief is through volunteering.
Local community groups or
museums and historic sites always welcome
people who can spare some time
to support their activities.
Talk about your grief with a
friend. Expressing and exploring your
feelings with a trusted friend is one of
the best things you can do for yourself.
Talking helps relieve the pressure,
brings you perspective, and keeps you
in touch with others. Cry when you feel
like it.
Read practical articles and books
about grief. Reading about bereavement
is an excellent way to find your
way through this difficult, uncharted
experience.
Guide your thinking. According
to Laurence G. Boldt, author of Zen
Soup: “’Thoughts,’ as Emerson put it,
‘rule the world’ for the simple reason
that thoughts determine feelings and
actions. We can think ourselves into
happiness or a deep depression. We can
think ourselves into health or illness. If
we only take care of our thoughts, our
feelings and actions will take care of
themselves.”
Cultivate hope on a daily basis.
When the days seem too long, the nights
endless and hope a distant memory,
rinse your mind and fortify your spirit
by reflecting on words of hope. Though
your journey through grief may seem
dark, the light of recovery will break
through.
Most survivors will find solace in
these suggestions. But if you feel that
your grief is overwhelming your life,
ask your family funeral director for the
name of a local bereavement counselor
who can guide you through resolving
your feelings of sadness and loss.
Material in this column was excerpted
(with permission) from
an article authored by Victor M.
Parachin, a National Funeral Directors
Association grief educator and
minister.
Courtesy of NYS
Funeral Directors Association
Coping with death
St. Michael’s is proud to feature
two upcoming talented artists who
have been recognized
for their accomplishments:
Olga Tourkina, violin and
Philipp Petkov, piano,
accompanied by four musical
counterparts to complete a
Fab 4 and more.
For further information
contact Ed Horn.
(718) 278-3240
/QNS.COM
