It is human nature to try to help our friends, neighbours, family, and friends though their grief. This compulsion to offer advice, or say something we think will ease the pain, often serves to diminish the feelings people are experiencing, and can sometimes even cause harm, despite our best intentions. It is important to know why we experience grief so we know what to look for in ourselves and in others, and to understand that everyone’s journey is different.
Traditionally, when we think about grief, we often think of loss. In this episode we are going to delve into a more comprehensive definition of grief, what causes it, how we process it, how we can help others through it, and we are also going to have a heart-to-heart about the pitfalls of comparison.
Then we are going to touch on Helen’s remarkable book, 53 Grove Road. As a child, Helen had been shuffled between her birth mother and various foster homes eight times before being adopted at the age of four. The unfortunate circumstances in Helen’s early formative years were just the beginning of a childhood filled with dysfunction, grief and ultimate lessons in survival. Helen now shares her story to help others move forward from trauma and grief, embrace the idea that the human spirit can and will endure, and to find peace, freedom and forgiveness in the journey.
In this episode:
- Community Question: In what ways can you support people sharing their stories of grief and personal struggle? (Intro).
- The grief journey (4:35).
- Question of the day: What does grief mean to you? (8:15).
- 53 Grove Road (12:35).
- Answers to the community question – how we can support others (17:09).
- What’s happening this year & Take back, Bring Back (20:10).
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