“You can tell if someone really cares what you’re going through. They are watchful enough to know when to leave you alone and helpful enough to assure you that you’re not. Your lousy day can change with the smallest of gestures: someone asking how you’re doing and sticking around long enough to hear the truth and respond, the unhurried tone of a heartfelt comment, or the comfort of an arm around you. And all of us are grateful for coworkers who pick up the slack when our focus wanders.
An acquaintance, a workmate, even the stranger standing next to you in line might recognize your pain and offer an ear or at least a smile. Best of all is the friend who shows up unexpectedly with take-out and a patient ear. And when there’s no human is sight, a lick on the face from your best canine friend is love you can count on.”
The above paragraphs were taken from my book about coping with loss, from the chapter Knowing Someone Cares: Learn that you matter after all. Loss is a life experience that we all have in common so I try to blog about it every once in a while. After all, most major changes in life carry with them a loss… of the way it used to be… of the person we used to have in our lives. Eventually we all have to adjust when loved ones die, dreams disappear, health turns sour, or relationships change. We lose moms, dads, children, husbands, wives, siblings, grandparents… our soldiers… our unborn. We lose pets, jobs, our nest eggs, and sometimes even our sanity.
Grief is something we usually associate with the death of a loved one, but there’s much more to it than that. The volume of pain is stunning and finding solace—in any form—is comforting. This relief can be a way back to living again.