Kindness Through Loss

Day 61: Kindness Through Loss

“When it seems that our sorrow is too great to be borne, let us think of the great family of the heavy-hearted into which our grief has given us entrance, and inevitably, we will feel about us their arms, their sympathy, their understanding.” – Helen Keller

We all go through many losses in our lives. The loss of a relationship, the loss of a life, the loss of a job, the loss of a marriage, the loss of a friendship and many more scenarios. Some losses are small and some are bigger and more devastating than others, but what they all require is time to grieve. There is no time standard for grief. Grieving is a process and can come in waves. Sometimes just the anniversary of a big loss can trigger the grieving process again. No matter the loss or how big or small it feels, it is essential to be gentle and kind during the grieving process. To honor the place that we are in, to be kind and remind ourselves that this too shall pass.

Kindness to Self:

Being gentle, kind and understanding of where we are in the grieving process and allowing time and space for the loss is the best thing we can do to help ourselves through it.  We can also reach out to others and  be open to receiving support.

Kindness to Others:

When a friend or loved one is grieving, it can be difficult to know what to say or how to offer assistance. Just being open and available is enough. Offering a hug, our presence, our attention, our hope, our support and strength is what kindness to others is all about.

Kindness to Strangers:

We can be available to strangers through volunteering at our church or other local organizations that help families and people through loss. We can also practice metta, loving kindness meditation, or we can pray for those people experiencing loss.

Kindness to Our Planet:

Through loss we can learn preservation and gain appreciation for the things that we still have and for the precious lives that surround us, in the form of plants, people, creatures and animals.

Jennifer Palazzo

Photo Courtesy of FreeImages.com and The Very Kind Anna B.