Friday, September 28, 2018

9/26/2018 Caring Bridge

Journal entry by Joanne Negstad — Sep 26, 2018
    Joanne did some volunteering in a hospice program.  When I was going through some of her files I came across some material from that hospice.  In a booklet, Healing Grief, Fifth Edition, by Amy Hillyard Jensen, under a section, "Build on your memories," were these points;
    > "Enter into your loved one's work or interests...."
    > "Write. If you have the ability, write in a way that is influenced by or dedicated to the memory of the one you loved."
    >"Give money...."
    >"Laugh. Recall the humorous times and laugh about them.  Some people will disapprove if you laugh 'too soon,' but it's not disrespectful.  Remembering with laughter is helpful."

    Well two out of four is not bad. 😉   This compulsion to write baffles me...I don't understand it, but maybe I stumbled unto something.  Perhaps someday I'll go back and read all I've written and some insights will be revealed.  There have been many learnings in 'the land of grief' and I doubt I would be as cognizant of them had I not written.  
     It appears that others also find my writing helpful.  For those who knew and loved Joanne this is an on-going invitation to walk with me in 'the land of grief.'
      Humor had not abandoned me.  That, for me is a sign of hope, hope that I will ultimately thrive, however sad, in the 'land of grief' living with the 'presence of absence'.    

Blessings

Al

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