Finding your way

Everyone has different ways of coping with grief. Here are some ways that have helped people:

• Talking with others about it

• Talking to my loved one out loud even

• Listening to their voicemails, reading their text messages and handwritten letters

• Crying

• Reading books about losing someone or the afterlife

• Praying or going to church

• Meditating

• Going to grief counseling or a support group

• Volunteering for a cancer cause or organizing an event in their honor

• Just hugging someone, not saying anything

• Looking at pictures of them

• Receiving medical care for anxiety, depression and panic attacks

• Kickboxing

• Starting a memorial scholarship in their name

• Holding an annual memorial golf tournament to bring friends and family together around

the anniversary of their death

• Getting a tattoo that reminded you of them

• Remembering that I told my mother I loved her every single day and have no regrets • Dedicating every run to my dad, who loved to run and hike empty mountain trails

• Visiting my husband’s gravesite and taking him flowers

• Opening up my own Barre Code studio – where I feel the most connected to my mom • Taking over my dad’s bucket list and working alone to accomplish them for him

• Looking at the reminders of her in my home

• Knowing that they are always with me

• Trying to live my life using the values she taught me

• Staying busy – work helped

• Connecting with people that remind me of my loved one

• Watching certain movies or listening to the music they liked

• Keeping their belongings close and wearing their clothes

• Posting about them on social media, reminding people about how amazing they were • Receiving support from my family and friends

• Being with people who let me talk about my loved one without diverting conversation or

getting awkward

• Talking to others who have experienced a deep loss

• Writing down memories we had together

• Investing in my mom

• Being around others

• Being alone

• Processing it and not putting it away for a more appropriate time

• Maintaining old and new traditions

• Thinking about and being thankful for the life, children and the home we built together • Establishing a special section of books in her honor at the grade-school library where she

taught

• Reminding myself that they aren’t in pain or hurting anymore

• Faith and prayer helps me get through