After receiving help and support after a traumatic and life changing experience, a thought that would be normal to have is, “What now?” Many may even feel guilty about moving on with their life. But, there are many positive ways to start the process of moving forward and still fondly remembering that part of your life.
Death has the power to turn your life upside down. When my mom died, I felt lost, alone, sad, and empty. The death of my mom left a gaping hole in my life and heart that nothing could fill. But eventually I learned to fight back against the grief and sadness, and I began to live again.
Do you feel guilty? It’s ok. Guilt is a natural feeling to have after losing a parent.
There are five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
I have started and restarted this brief paragraph, looking for the right words to express my experiences and thoughts. But now I realize that they were right in front of me. Having a friend who has gone through this struggle is like having a friend that has more depth, sensitivity and understanding than most people. They have been through a loss that is, in my opinion, one of the roughest someone could go through. They prevail however, and that is an immense act of strength. A friend who has lost a parent can be the ultimate comfort when you need support, as well as an amazing listener. Of course this is provided that you get around the tall walls he or she has built around him or her.
In the blurry, awful period immediately after my father died, the house where I’d spent half my life no longer felt like mine. Everything felt too quiet, too still. The lingering air of death and sadness was heavy all around us. The family dogs refused to leave my parents’ bedroom and even the sun seemed reluctant to shine, obscured behind a cloudy snowstorm that lasted all night and the following day.
