Sitting alone in the evening was such a tough time for me in early grief. I longed for someone to talk to about my day or what my dreams were. I turned to my journal at times like this where I could pour my heart out and figure out what I wanted, where I was going. Does this sound like experiences you have had?
When dealing with loss, I found that people who I considered friends tended to stay away from spending time with me. I was surprised at that.This was the time I longed for their presence, but they weren’t there. I justified the absence by telling myself that they must be busy. When I had an opportunity to talk to a friend, I told her I missed her and would love to spend time with her. I was surprised when she told me that she was sorry. She wanted to spend time with me, but she didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to make me feel worse by saying the wrong thing. Wow. What a shock.
I was looking at my loneliness was something that someone else had to fix, but while sitting by myself I knew that I had to take the first step. I remembered that some of my friends ha asked me in the past had asked me how to cook vegan food that tasted good since they knew I was a certified vegan chef. With this inspiration, I asked some friends to come to my house to learn how to fix a tasty vegan meal. My friends were happy to join me knowing they had something positive to do together.
Reaching out to who I wanted to be with worked for me. I invited people to go to concerts, to classes, to a film festival, and to my house to make Christmas ornaments together. Relieving them of their perceived obligation to deal with my grief opened the way for us to be comfortable spending time together. As they saw how I could speak comfortably about my husband who had transitioned allowed them the comfort to join in the conversation when they wanted to.
I found much comfort in writing about what I was dealing this a decided to reach out to people who were seeking ways to deal with their grief. At that time, I didn’t know that many people on Maui who were driving, so I put a message on MeetUp and invited people to come to my house to write about grief together and then talk about it. Suddenly I had a new group of friends who met regularly who were grateful to have found a caring group of friends to share experiences with.
Now I offer you the opportunity to write about things dealing with grief, then share what you wrote about with a whole new groups of friends who get you, like I do. We gather on Zoom once a week and our Grief and Happiness Alliance Nonprofit Organization covers the expenses so you don’t have to pay a thing. People who come to the gatherings have told meow much they appreciate what we do together and the new friends they make. I have made many new friends from around the world by participating in in this group.
I invite you to connect with me and with your new friends who all are dealing with grief and loss. Much comfort comes from this practice of self-care. And I get to meet you and know you, and share with you, and I love that opportunity. Pease join us! You can make a reservation each week by clicked on this link.
I look forward to connecting with you!
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Handbook by clicking here.
You can order The Grief and Happiness Cards by clicking here.
You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here. https://a.co/d/eWNx3j1
You can sign up for our newsletter here
The Grief and Happiness Alliance
Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief
You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking here
You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking here
You can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Handbook by clicking here.
You can order The Grief and Happiness Cards by clicking here.
You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here.