sometimes the chart doesn't "work" 322/366

This was on my FB memories today from 2015, a little over a year after Bill died.

                     It didn't copy and paste clearly so I've typed the words below:            

                                 Loss-Hurt                         Loss adjustment

                                 Shock                               Helping others

                                 Numbness                        Affirmation

                                 Denial                               Hope

                                 Emotional Outbursts         New Patterns

                                 Anger                                New Strengths

                                 Fear                                  New Relationships

                                 Searchings                      

                                 Disorganization                "Re-Entry Troubles

                                 Panic                                 Depression

                                                  Loneliness                       

                                        Guilt                       Isolation

Actually, the graphic above is only half of what they sent.

The other half is below.

It's truth resonated with me then. It resonates now.

Healthy grieving is anything but a neat, tidy package.

It isn't linear.

Neither is it predictable.

There is no time limit, no "end date".

You never "get over it",

but you can learn to lean in and learn how to adapt to the changes loss brings.

Is it easy?

NO!

But it is necessary if you are going to live rather than exist or decay.

Deep grief,

so I've heard and repeated,

is the price of deep love.

And in my book,

deep love is worth the risk.

If you are anywhere on this grief chart,

please keep putting one foot in front of the other,

get up and shower every day,

get dressed,

get outside for at least a few minutes,

show up, even when you feel broken.

Rest assured that falling apart

is actually a healthy part of rebuilding and healing.

This is a way to choose life over mere existence,

or worse, 

a slow fade and eventual decomposition.