Living with Grief
My close friend Abby passed away 10 years ago. Today, and many other days, I ask myself how I can honor Abby’s legacy. And I’ve realized that Abby’s memory is integrated into my life.
“Abby” is repeatedly mentioned throughout my gratitude journal.
When I have a particularly hard day, I immediately look for videos of animal friends (ex: a bunny and a dog playing, a deer and a cat hanging outdoors) and I smile.
If I’m anxious, I’ll wear one of Abby’s old bracelets and I feel grounded.
The leftover stumps from Christmas trees remind me of Abby. During Christmas time, I take a moment to notice the stumps and remember the art she created from them.
I think of Abby when I’m feeling especially attuned to the experiences of a client.
And while I’m not a huge Carly Rae Jepsen fan, I can’t help but tear up and think of Abby when I hear “call me maybe.”
We all have to deal with grief; it’s a natural part of life. In the midst of grief, it helps to accept pain, show compassion toward ourselves, and express gratitude for the relationship. Cutting ourselves off from experiencing our emotions or disengaging with the memories that pop up does us more harm than good. We grieve because we love and that love never goes away.
