Statements on Grief
The following list of thoughts and comments about grief are original with Chaplain John W. Cundiff, D.Min. This list may be added to periodically.
- Grief has a beginning, but no end. Grief changes you and your expression of grief changes with time.
- Grief happens over a long time, longer than you first thought, do not try to rush grief you will lose and you have already lost enough.
- My grief is not the same as your grief. Grief is not a series of stages or phases to be completed one by one and then your are done. Rather grief is a life-long journey of discovery about meaning and purpose.
- When others try to keep you busy to keep you busy so they do not have to deal with your grief, tell them you are already busy. You are busy grieving. It is hard work, time consuming, and the best thing you can do.
- Take time and effort to distract yourself to do normal things. These are things you want to do and enjoy doing. Eat on a regular schedule, get 8 hours of sleep each night, do some exercise, and if something is funny laugh out loud loudly and often.