SURVIVING GRIEF Most people will experience all or some of these stages and may pass through them multiple times. It is important to allow the process of grief and not expect it to be on a timeline. Positive ways of coping with grief may include: • Staying physically healthy, by eating well, getting enough rest/sleep • Making sense out of what happened, derive meaning from it, and put it into a context. • Honoring the loss by finding ways to carry on the legacy of the person. This could include art, activism, prayer or community involvement. • Staying functional at work and daily activities, but allowing time to reflect on the loss. • Don’t judge your feelings: allow them to be valid in your own mind. This will go a long way toward relieving tension and helping you stay on track toward healing. • There are numerous grief support groups available. These support groups meet regularly and can be found by contacting your local cemetery, funeral home or parish offices. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe’s Family Life Office offers support and resources to help individuals through the grief process. Their website address is: http://www.archdiocesesantafe.org/Offices/ FamilyLife/FamilyLife.html. • Much has been written on death, dying and grief. There are numerous resources available. Contact your local library or bookstore. There are many online resources as well. • Some may take comfort in talking to family and friends. Often they are experiencing the same feelings and can share what has helped them. • Some may have more difficulty in processing their grief. If this is the case speak to your healthcare professional. They may suggest counseling or therapy. Many will eventually move to a place of acceptance where memories are not overwhelming. Rather, they are welcomed and comforting reminders of our loved one. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. John 5:24 Catholic Cemetery Association - Funeral Planning Guide 27