This article in the Huffington Post about one woman’s grief at the loss of a spouse (of 47 years) may be of interest to some of you.
There were several thought-provoking things said in this blog post — not all of which I agreed with. Here are a few excerpts:
* “What fascinates me is that women today are more open about the pain of childbirth than they are about the pain of grief. Grief is the new taboo. Few people openly talk about the agony of grief.”
* “I get daily calls from well-meaning folks asking how I am. I have learned never to ask a widow or widower how they are doing.”
* “There should be a pain barometer for grief. Doctors inquire about your back pain all the time. Is it a five or a seven today?”
* “I was amazed when a friend said to me, ‘I know exactly what you are going through. My mother died six months ago.’ What people don’t realize is that the loss of a spouse is different. When you lose a parent, you have siblings or family members to comfort you. When you lose a spouse, you lose your life partner and are alone.”
* “No one should look at grief before they must face it. But we should be prepared for its effect on our life. Maybe if we talk about it more, it will lessen the pain when it happens?”
Here’s a link to the article:
www.huffingtonpost.com/laurie-burrows-grad/pain-of-losing-a-spouse_b_8173264.html
DEMOTED TO LUNCH: The Underbelly Of Grief
by Laurie Burrows Grad
Huffington Post
Posted: 09/22/2015 8:00 am EDT
Robin