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26 SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM COPING WITH DEATH Prescription for grief relief 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, fi nd a job. • Stay fi t. 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 fl owers, 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 fi nd your way through this diffi cult, uncharted experience. Most survivors will fi nd 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 Hess-Miller Funeral Home �� ANTHONY J. MARTINO, Lic. Mgr. DAVID L. MARTINO, Director Owned By Martino F.H., Inc. Since 1982 1-718-821-6660 or 1-800-479-6419 Serving Ridgewood, Maspeth, Middle Village & Glendale �� 64-19 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, N.Y. www.hessmillerfuneralhome.com Papavero Funeral Home �� Family Owned & Operated for Five Generations �� 129 49 • Pre-Planning • Serving the Financial Burden of All Families in Their Time of Need • A One Level Concept of a Modern Funeral Home • Large Chapels • Newly Renovated • Large Parking Facility on Premises 718-366-1900 www.senecachapels.com 494 Seneca Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 /WWW.QNS.COM /www.senecachapels.com /www.hessmillerfuneralhome.com /www.hessmillerfuneralhome.com /www.senecachapels.com