Supporting Someone Who is Grieving: How to do Nothing
We all know the common platitudes that we are learn, culturally, to offer people who are grieving. They’re in a better place. It’s time to move on with your life. They wouldn’t want you to feel bad. At least they’re no longer suffering. These aren’t terrible things to say, and are not problems in themselves, but they often come out of a problem that the listener is experiencing.
It’s hard to hear about grief.
Don’t Get Over It
I used to think that grief was something you just get over. You go through the 5 stages and poof! The sadness and pain of the loss are over. You just had to ride out this one big, horrible storm. It wasn’t until my own experiences with grief over the last several years, that I realized this will be with me forever. Grief will always be a part of you once you lose someone. And I also learned that it is a journey to grieve someone and you can learn to carry the grief with you in life. Grief can help you repurpose that person into your life you never thought possible and offer moments to heal and grow.