Why not?

OCTOBER 23 Grief Meditation

“Why not” is a slogan for an interesting life. —MASON COOLEY

At first our energy is absorbed in doing the necessary things—making arrangements, speaking with those who come to console us. After the immediate hubbub is over, we are probably exhausted. Then, when some strength to do “optional things” begins to come back, we probably return to our conventional patterns and activities, glad for the security of “the usual.”

But our life has changed now, with the event of this loss. Perhaps it is time to take the energy we poured into that relationship (and often there was a lot of physical care) and turn to some new thing. Think of it. Let your imagination wander; poke around in the attic of your mind, where you’ve stashed away some dreams. What New Thing might you want to try?

Do you dare? Why not? Think of your loved one as blessing your effort, smiling through the veil that separates life from death, cheering you on—“Go ahead. Give it a try. I dare you. You know I’d love to have you succeed. And you may. This is the time!”

I will appropriate my loved one’s courage, and blessing, and dare a New Thing.

Hickman, Martha W.. Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief (Kindle Locations 3669-3680). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.

About the author

Katherine Billings Palmer is a technical writer, poet, and essayist from Garden City, Michigan. She’s won several academic writing awards, including first place in the University of Michigan Dearborn Critical Essay Contest for her work about poet John Donne: “‘The Sun Rising’: A Lover’s Boast.”

In 2017, Katherine’s husband, Rick, died of complications from small cell lung cancer. She wrote a series of poems and essays about her struggles to cope with her grief. I Wanted to Grow Old With You is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

Her latest book, A Widow’s Words: Grief, Reflection, Prose, and Poetry – The First Year was published in January 2019 and is also available on Amazon.com.

Katherine is a guest blogger for the Hope for Widows Foundation and writes about her grief journey at www.TheWritingWidow.com.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *