Good Mourning Newsletter€¦ · People in grief may feel this emptiness in every level of their...
4
As leaves tumble down, branches are left empty. People in grief may feel this emptiness in every level of their being. The empty chair, the unheard laughter, and the absence of touch are painful reminders of loss. An array of feelings from fear, loneliness and anger to guilt, shock, and relief may move through us like a powerful wind. It takes great strength to turn into this gale, facing these feelings of loss and bending with them until they begin to subside. This storm of emotion may leave us feeling exhausted, but ultimately clearer about what brings meaning to the present. Autumn is a time of balance, when light and dark and heat and cold find equilibrium. We, too, can find balance in fullness and emptiness, pain and appreciation, work and rest. We gradually begin to see the possibilities of a life with meaning and hope. The other side of grief is seeing what it is to live. Here are some suggestions to help as you face the fear of being alone or the challenge of performing tasks that are new to you. Remember, take it slowly, not everything has to be done or learned immediately. ▪ Contact your local police department to ask how to better secure your home. Talk with others who live alone to find what they do to feel safe. ▪ Ask family and friends to help you in your learning transition. Whether it’s balancing a check– book or learning to cook, ask them to teach you. ▪ Consider hiring outside help for things like yard work, bill paying, or housekeeping. If you once shared these responsibilities; you may not be able to do them all. ▪ Be realistic about your health and capabilities. For example, don’t endanger yourself by climbing a ladder if this is unsafe. ▪ Talk with people you trust and/or join a group to talk about your thoughts, fears and feelings. Being with others that understand and can support you can be the greatest gift you give yourself. Keep a journal. Writing down your fears and feelings gives them clarity, which can help dispel fears. As you reflect on your writing over time, you will notice progress, recognize patterns, and learn some things about yourself. The beauty of the changing season cannot be denied, the colors of the autumn leaves unfold a new beauty that no other season can match. Amidst our grief we may have moments that allow us to reminisce and reflect on the beauty of our beloved and the joy that their lives brought. http://www.pathwayshealth.org Good Mourning Newsletter Greetings: For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad. Edwin Way Teale What a beautiful perspective! We often focus on Autumn as being a time to reap the harvest ... but in fact nature teaches us, it too can be a time to sow ... This Autumn, as you process all that your loss means to you in your life, and seek to reorganize your life in light of your loss, I encourage you to: 1. Reap the harvest of fond memories that are in the storehouse of your memory. 2. Sow seeds of thankfulness and well-being in your life. We are gearing up again for Fall here and are once again seeking to support you in every way possible to do your harvesting and sowing. Please read carefully through this Newsletter ... and maybe you'll see an event you'd like to attend or a support group you'd like to attend. May this Fall be one that offers you the space and time you need to move through your grief experience Your journey lies before you so embrace the journey and find in it health and wholeness. Peace and Joy to you, Della Jones - Parkview Funeral Services September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 Trade Name for W. J. Jones & Son Limited & Parkview Funeral Chapel Inc THE SEASON OF THANKSGIVING J ONES -P ARKVIEW F UNERAL S ERVICES 106 Athabasca St. E. – 474 Hochelaga St. W Moose Jaw, SK S6H 0L4 – Moose Jaw, SK S6H 2G9 3066934644 ● 3066945500 [email protected] www.jonesparkview.com
Transcript of Good Mourning Newsletter€¦ · People in grief may feel this emptiness in every level of their...
As leaves tumble down, branches are left empty. People in grief may feel
this emptiness in every level of their being. The empty chair, the unheard
laughter, and the absence of touch are painful reminders of loss. An array
of feelings from fear, loneliness and anger to guilt, shock, and relief may
move through us like a powerful wind.
It takes great strength to turn into this gale, facing these feelings of loss
and bending with them until they begin to subside. This storm of emotion
may leave us feeling exhausted, but ultimately clearer about what brings
meaning to the present.
Autumn is a time of balance, when light and dark and heat and cold find
equilibrium. We, too, can find balance in fullness and emptiness, pain and
appreciation, work and rest. We gradually begin to see the possibilities of
a life with meaning and hope.
The other side of grief is seeing what it is to live.
Here are some suggestions to help as you face the fear of being alone or
the challenge of performing tasks that are new to you. Remember, take it
slowly, not everything has to be done or learned immediately.
▪ Contact your local police department to ask how to better secure your
home. Talk with others who live alone to find what they do to feel safe.
▪ Ask family and friends to help you in your learning transition. Whether
it’s balancing a check– book or learning to cook, ask them to teach
you.
▪ Consider hiring outside help for things like yard work, bill paying, or
housekeeping. If you once shared these responsibilities; you may not
be able to do them all.
▪ Be realistic about your health and capabilities. For example, don’t
endanger yourself by climbing a ladder if this is unsafe.
▪ Talk with people you trust and/or join a group to talk about your
thoughts, fears and feelings. Being with others that understand and
can support you can be the greatest gift you give yourself.
▪ Keep a journal. Writing down your fears and feelings gives them clarity,
which can help dispel fears. As you reflect on your writing over time, you
will notice progress, recognize patterns, and learn some things about
yourself.
The beauty of the changing season cannot be denied, the colors of the
autumn leaves unfold a new beauty that no other season can match.
Amidst our grief we may have moments that allow us to reminisce and
reflect on the beauty of our beloved and the joy that their lives brought.
http://www.pathwayshealth.org
Good Mourning Newsletter
Greetings:
For man, autumn is a time of harvest,
of gathering together. For nature, it is a time of sowing,
of scattering abroad.
Edwin Way Teale
What a beautiful perspective! We often focus on Autumn as being a time to reap the harvest ... but in fact nature teaches us, it too can be a time to sow ... This Autumn, as you process all that your loss means to you in your life, and seek to reorganize your life in light of your loss, I encourage you to:
1. Reap the harvest of fond memories that are in the storehouse of your memory.
2. Sow seeds of thankfulness and well-being in your life.
We are gearing up again for Fall here and are once again seeking to support you in every way possible to do your harvesting and sowing.
Please read carefully through this Newsletter ... and maybe you'll see an event you'd like to attend or a support group you'd like to attend.
May this Fall be one that offers you the space and time you need to move through your grief experience Your journey lies before you so embrace the journey and find in it health and wholeness.
Peace and Joy to you,
Della Jones - Parkview Funeral Services
September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 Trade Name for W. J. Jones & Son Limited & Parkview Funeral Chapel Inc
THE SEASON OF THANKSGIVING
JONES-PARKVIEW FUNERAL SERVICES 106 Athabasca St. E. – 474 Hochelaga St. W
Moose Jaw, SK S6H 0L4 – Moose Jaw, SK S6H 2G9 3066934644 ● 3066945500
[email protected] www.jonesparkview.com
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY
“WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT SUICIDE”
Pop-Up Coffee and Concert At “The Hive”
23 Main St. N. Moose Jaw 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Featuring: Concert by Emily Steinhauer & Kelly Lin “Live” Painting by Jess Zoerb
& Coffee by Foreground Coffee Company
Bring your friends and family… and let’s BEE together at “The Hive”.
Because there’s nothing like music to raise HOPE.
Journey to Hope
A Fundraising Walk
Supporting Suicide Awareness & Prevention
Saturday September 28, 2019 At W. J. Jones Chapel 106 Athabasca St E
10:00AM –10:30AM Music & Mural Painting Begins
10:30AM Hope Healing & Honouring
Ceremony
11:30AM Walk
For more information, visit our
website: journeytohope.synthasite.com
Call: 306-693-4644 for more info& pledge forms
or e-mail [email protected] or [email protected]
LOOKING AHEAD
Pregnancy and Infant Loss
You are invited to light a Candle at 7:00PM on October 15, 2019 and join with others who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Candles in all the time zones around the world will glow warm and bright in Remembrance and Hope.
Remember you are not alone in your journey.
There is no footprint
too small that cannot
leave an imprint on this world
TO CONTACT BRENDA OR DELLA
or call our
JONES FUNERAL HOME LOCATION
at 306-693-4644
or call our PARKVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL LOCATION
at 306-694-5500
Visit Facebook:
www.facebook.com/wjjonesandson
Visit our Website:
www.jonesparkview.com
COMMON GROUND BEREAVED PARENTS
SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE
Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support - 1st Wednesday of each month
7pm-9pm at 679 Hall St. W - Informed Choices Pregnancy Centre
for Personal Support call Sara @ 306-690-8462 National Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support: http://www.nationalshare.org/
Grief Support for Parents who have experienced the death of a Child
3rd Wednesday of Each Month 7:30pm to 9:00pm
September 18th, 2019 October 16th, 2019
November 20th, 2019 * December 11th, 2019 *
*Hope & Bereaved Parents will be combined*
Everyone is Welcome
Grief Support for those who have experienced the death of a Loved One to Suicide
4th Wednesday of Each Month 7:30PM to 9:00PM
September 25th, 2019 October 23rd, 2019
November 27th, 2019 December 18th, 2019
Note change of week to the 3rd week of December
Everyone is Welcome
HOPE Grief Support for ALL Bereaved
2nd Wednesday of Each Month 7:30PM to 9:00PM
September 11th, 2019 October 9th, 2019
November 13th, 2019
* December 11th, 2019 *
*Hope & Bereaved Parents will be combined*
Everyone is Welcome
* Note: Mourning Star Service Dec. 5th *
* Note: World Wide Candlelighting for
Bereaved Parents Dec. 8th *
Grief Support Group for those who have experienced the death of their Spouse
Wednesday Mornings for 5 weeks 10:00am - 11:30am
Sessions
October 2ND: Understanding Grief
October 9th: Understanding our Emotions
October 16th: Coping with Adjustment & Loneliness
October 23rd: Redefinition & Search for New Identity
October 30th: Reconciliation of Your Loss *
Please pre-register by calling Brenda
@ 306-693-4644
Everyone is Welcome
SUPPORT GROUPS
All the support groups meet at
Our Parkview Location
474 Hochelaga St. W
Grief is often reawakened as the year nears its end.
Brown grass and dried gardens with remnants of vegetable vines and a lonely shriveled tomato hanging on a broken stem remind us the summer has gone. It is a difficult time for people prone to depression, or those grieving the death of a loved one. Days are colder and the early evening darkness brings too much quiet time causing us to notice the absence of the one we have loved. Short days tell us the winter will come and the days of holiday cheer. This realization brings a feeling of dread and panic. What will I do? How will it be? How will I be? Can I survive? Change and holidays are catalysts that propel the roller coaster of grief, turning calm days into sleepless nights and reopening wounds that have just begun to heal. Emotional triggers include Halloween with its festive and fun spirit evoking memories of early childhood, wide-eyed and innocent, exploring and participating in a world of make believe. I can be a pirate, or a princess or Dorothy of Kansas. Now I know the world includes grief and all that comes with it. I know about suicide, and disease, and being scared. Painful memories abound, reflections not of our loved one but on how we coped, what we did instead, how we held it together. Questions everywhere, should I have done more? Did I care enough? I feel alone and I am missing you. At times it seems new memories will never happen, at least authentic peaceful ones. I watch the happiness of others quietly resenting the healthy interaction of families finding joy at their holiday table. A tinge of jealousy sneaks its way to the surface. The holidays present another level of grief. There is a paradox of autumn to be appreciated in the journey we call grief. Nature is both cruel in its presentation of emotional triggers and yet loving and supportive in its message to prepare and to have gratitude. I feel forewarned and I know what to expect. Awareness reduces the number of surprises and adds predictability. Like a squirrel I gather good books and movies to occupy and nurture the wanderings of my mind. My journal lies ready at the bedside. Maybe I will change holiday rituals and sidestep the pain of the old ones. Brisk walks and crisp air help to awaken the lethargy. The cold which chills me to the bone encourages comfort food and rich soup, lovely soft flannels and colorful plaids. I can fill my empty home with the smells of freshly baked bread, cinnamon and raisins. The lonely early night, although dark, reveals diamonds in the sky and the silence for reflecting on what once was. Warm memories unfold and I am at peace. I know where to find you. Grief has quieted its roar. Nature sends the brown bear to hibernate, the geese migrate and I am reminded to seek solace. The quiet safe place inside where I can care for myself, where my heart can be still. Where I can experience connection to those I miss, and where I can remember who I am. Autumn has forewarned me and I have a suspicion of what to expect. I will nurture myself. I will say “yes” to the friends who understand and “no” to those who don’t. I will get up and keep going and I will give myself permission to cry cry when I need to cry.
http://www.journeythroughloss.com Adapted from Autumn poem by Lauren Miles
GRIEF IN AUTUMN – ALONE AND MISSING YOU
