Because Love Goes On...
At the time this article is being written , we find the holidays fast approaching. While a joyous and celebratory time for most, the holidays can also be a challenging time for individuals and families emotionally burdened by grief.
What causes us to experience "Grief"?
Grief is often described as the reaction to a major loss. Most apparent is the loss of a family member or friend. But, individuals often experience grief as a response to other "losses" as well. The loss of a relationship, job, and even companion animal are just a few of more than forty events that can initiate grief!
Consider for a moment how "grief" is experienced and typically addressed in the United States and here at home. In Chester County, for example there are about 3,500 people that die every year. Most often, death is viewed as the event that marks the "end" of someone's life and therefore their part in the lives of family and friends. While this is true in a physical sense , it is far from accurate when you consider the emotional aspect of a relationship. In other words, we bury the person NOT the relationship. Even after someone is gone, they are relevant in our lives, often influencing our decisions , behaviors, and general outlook of the world around us.
In fact, death is the key event in beginning a new relationship, a new emotional relationship with someone or something that we have lost. Our culture has a limited, but growing awareness of the importance of this new relationship and how to move beyond "grief". In effect, we are having a new "emotional" relationship with the person or thing that we have lost without the "physical" relationship.
Grief is often referred to as a process, and like all tasks, best when shared. Consider this new "relationship" will take time and work before becoming comfortable or possibly even a source of strength. Consider your own current relationships with both a physical and emotional component: spouse, friend, parent, or co-worker, even pet-owner. In all of these relationships, most people have consistent reinforcement and support about their role.
For example, wives often share stories and advice from their own marriages with other wives as a form of support. Parents consistently "network", sharing thoughts, strategies and goals even if it is in the form of chat on the playground. Pet-owners congregate by the thousands, sharing their similar cares and concerns. These all represent individuals in similar circumstances, sharing similar thoughts, with similar goals!
What about those that have lost the physical relationship through a death, divorce, loss of job or any other "loss"? Individuals may find it more difficult to consistently share thoughts about a loss with those not experiencing similar events. While it may take a little work, the Life Celebration® Homes of Chester County offer healing through caring, sharing and understanding.
Because Love Goes On.... It's the foundation upon which the Life Celebration® Network of Homes was created. Life Celebration is the recognition that we never lose the ones we loved, so long as we loved the ones that were a part of our lives. Life Celebration® is the recognition that we are not as much helping at the end of a life, but assisting families in beginning a new, healthy and meaningful relationship with someone that has experienced a significant loss.
The Life Celebration® Continuum of Care Program offers area families meaningful options, regardless of where they may be in their journey at NO Cost. The Grief Recovery Programs, offered by the Ralston-Bredickas Life Celebration Home of Downingtown and Mauger-Givnish Life Celebration Home of Malvern are a dedicated resource for individuals seeking emotional healing and support. Alzheimer's Support helps recognize the unique challenges faced by family and caregivers, while the Life Celebration Veteran's Loyalty Program enables veterans and their families to maximize VA benefits and permanently honor their veteran's service with the Library of Congress Program. The Continuum of Care Program also assists area families with Medicaid planning, Hospice Benefits, Senior Care Services and even programs for pet-lovers!
For more information, contact Ken Neeld
Supervisor of the Mauger Givnish Life Celebration Home in Malvern, PA.
610-644-2240
