“Grief is like the ocean. It comes on waves ebbing and flowing. “                          

Vicki Harrison

“Summer is a season of mixed emotions for many families in grief. The end of school and after-school activities can be a relief for some, especially if they struggled with having enough energy and concentration for class and homework. Others will miss the structure and social time that school and sports provide. For adults, summer might mean a less demanding schedule, but could also add the stress of finding childcare or having enough financial resources for camps and trips.”  Taken from website Summer_time_and_grief.pdf (dougy.org)

Summer looks enjoyable for everyone, except for you. Have you felt this way? The barbeques, camping trips, swimming, and sports outings, these are things most enjoy, but may have lost its luster with the loss of your loved one. It’s okay if you’re not feeling like participating in the summer festivities. It’s also okay if you do want to indulge in your favorite activities. Enjoying yourself, doesn’t mean you are not grieving.  Healing begins with taking care yourself and your needs too. This may include some time at the beach alone, a family picnic, creating new summer traditions or carrying on with traditions of the past.  It will look different for everyone, that’s ok.  Like the waves in the ocean, our grief ebbs, and flows, so do our needs and emotions.

“With the summertime approaching, those who are grieving may find it difficult to enjoy summer activities without their loved one. However, there are many ways you can grieve a loss and honor your loved one’s memory this summer.” Taken from 12 Creative Ways to Grieve a Loss During the Summertime (frazerconsultants.com)

You know what else may help you if you’re grieving? Finding a community of people who experienced a similar death. If you’d like to speak with someone from Lory’s Place and consider joining one of our peer support groups, please give us a call at 269-983-2707. We are always here to listen and connect you with other people who are grieving. If you like what you’ve read and would like to see more, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram, as well as at www.lorysplace.org.

Wishing you comfort, peace, and moments of joy,

The Lory’s Place Team