Meditating on grief.

    Grief, is the gift that keeps on giving. Conversing with a friend reminded me of Joanne’s frequent comment “grief touches grief.” In that conversation also was the observation that fatigue exacerbates grief. Grief is the strongest when we are tired. Paradoxically grief can also cause lack of sleep and rest. This creates a vicious circle, of fatigue, grief and restlessness. The random unexpected episodes of grief are another factor. An aroma, a song, a conversation can trigger grief when one least expects it. Several things have happened lately about which Joanne would be very interested. The presence of absence then become acute, lacking the opportunity to converse with her.

   Most of the time my grief is minor hum in the background of life. It awaits some stimulus to blossom into an episode. As an antidote I try to practice gratitude and look for the humor that life presents. Both humor and gratitude de-fang grief.

Takk for alt,

Al

This picture of the Reichstag, Berlin Germany is posted on the anniversary of the German "Krystallnacht". In 1938, on this date, Germans attacked Jews and their property. This marks the beginning of the Holocaust.