February 19--Grief Changes Us

Someday you're gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You'll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing.  --Elizabeth Gilbert

    This quote is quite relevant to these times, especially looking over the past year. Last March, everything changed very suddenly, with the pandemic fully landing on us. Even though we might be reluctant to label the past year as a "sweet time of grieving," that is exactly what it has been. 

    Overall, my life over the past year has been quite good. Nothing essential is lacking. But I have grieved many things: not seeing family and friends, travel plans cancelled, routines of life turned upside down, political corruption and general ugliness, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, economic struggles for so many, and illness and decline in dearly-loved family members. These griefs are not unique to me. We are all in mourning, for life as we have known it is radically changing. Grief done well makes us more loving, compassionate and caring. Aaaahhhh, that's where the "sweet time" comes in. More loving, compassionate and caring is certainly the direction I would like to see humanity take. 

    Let's use our grief for good,

        Leta

What a revolutionary proposition to realize that your heart-brokenness turns out to be the key to your willingness to remember what it takes to be a human being.  --Stephen Jenkinson