I think we as a culture were more comfortable with the reality of death and grieving when the majority of people died at home, the viewing of the body would be at home, the beginning of the funeral would be at home. Now it’s possible for someone to actually attain their adulthood without ever having lost a relative. They’ve possibly experienced the death of a pet, but we’ve done a pretty poor job of recognizing that this is a genuine and serious loss on a par with losing a loved one. We’re still at the denigrating pet grief stage, although I see popping up examples where some people “get it”. I was looking for flowers to send my daughter-in-law for National Living Donor Day (today) to thank her again - I can never thank her enough! - for donating her kidney to her oldest son, my first born and oldest grandson. The one florist I was browsing through in the Sympathy section had a floral arrangement for Loss of Pet. I know that someone somewhere makes sympathy cards for this loss as well, so maybe decades from now, we won’t make fun of it.
All kinds of loses throw people into deep grieving. You know all the people who lose their homes in natural disasters, whether by the hurricanes on the East Coast, or the annual fires in California, these people are grieving the loss of well, everything. Things can always be replaced, but our homes all hold memories and mementoes of people and times gone past, and these cannot be replaced. I have had possessions stolen on two separate occasions, the first occasion being in 1977, and I still grieve the loss of some jewelry that was given to my by my grandfather, and that’s been a very long time ago. It’s not something I think about even every month, but it will sneak up on me, a longing, a desire. I think the last time I felt wistful and adrift was when I was last reviewing my will, because there’s this knowledge that there are family treasures that are no longer in the family.
Talking about grief in the workplace. WOW! Talk about a Mic. Drop. Boom! Yes, please, we absolutely must talk about grief in the workplace. It would probably behoove every leader to periodically stop, interview if necessary, but make a list of who is currently grieving in one’s employees or team members. I can recall an occasion where there were five people grieving losses of close family members in the clinic where my office was located at the medical school: a daughter was brutally murdered, a spouse died, a sister died, a mother died, and a faculty member (physician in the clinic) died. These losses affected everyone in the building, and for the faculty member who died, this loss I would feel coming and going between the clinic (off campus) to the department on the main campus, where more people were grieving. Through in a couple of cancer experiences among several of the staff members, me, for one, and two had first-degree relatives undergoing treatment. The three of us formed a sort of informal support group.
I’m a huge believer in support groups, and if one’s organization is either large enough or has a large number of employees dealing with grief, see about starting a professionally supported grief support group at the workplace after hours, or at least help your employees find one. Many, many times it helps to talk to people walking the same journey, not to vent, but to share and to heal. Venting has been proved to be very detrimental to our mental health. And you might even come to this in your excellent work.
Thank you for sharing your grief journey so honestly with all of us. Thank you for taking on being a wildlife through grief as a ministry. That you for allowing the Holy Spirit for working though you to help you as well as others.
Yes, writing or any creative endeavor, is very much look bringing forth life into this world. Suddenly you realize that your heart is walking around. Thank you for your ministry. Peace 🕊️
My wife and I have lost a large number of family members in the last 9 years. We've lost brothers, uncles, grandparents, nephews, and most recently our son.
We've seen how poorly people handle it and handled it poorly ourselves at times. This is a good message to share and pass along.
Dearest Jason - thank you for authentically leading and support those in grief through your grief. You have help me stay very aware of it to my colleagues, friends, and family! This contribution is important to remind us that our employees also need support because those who are grieving may have to still going on to work or be an active member in the community.
Yesterday - I took time for a dear colleague’s who died five years ago. His wife reached out to me and asked to come to his work place that he loved so much … we had coffee, went for a walk and I just let her talk about the event that lead to his passing, how she makes the best of each day and then let her tears flow out and hugged her … listen and listen deeply as I read and read deeply all Jason has to offer us.
With gratitude and a hug from afar dearest Jason❣️
I think we as a culture were more comfortable with the reality of death and grieving when the majority of people died at home, the viewing of the body would be at home, the beginning of the funeral would be at home. Now it’s possible for someone to actually attain their adulthood without ever having lost a relative. They’ve possibly experienced the death of a pet, but we’ve done a pretty poor job of recognizing that this is a genuine and serious loss on a par with losing a loved one. We’re still at the denigrating pet grief stage, although I see popping up examples where some people “get it”. I was looking for flowers to send my daughter-in-law for National Living Donor Day (today) to thank her again - I can never thank her enough! - for donating her kidney to her oldest son, my first born and oldest grandson. The one florist I was browsing through in the Sympathy section had a floral arrangement for Loss of Pet. I know that someone somewhere makes sympathy cards for this loss as well, so maybe decades from now, we won’t make fun of it.
All kinds of loses throw people into deep grieving. You know all the people who lose their homes in natural disasters, whether by the hurricanes on the East Coast, or the annual fires in California, these people are grieving the loss of well, everything. Things can always be replaced, but our homes all hold memories and mementoes of people and times gone past, and these cannot be replaced. I have had possessions stolen on two separate occasions, the first occasion being in 1977, and I still grieve the loss of some jewelry that was given to my by my grandfather, and that’s been a very long time ago. It’s not something I think about even every month, but it will sneak up on me, a longing, a desire. I think the last time I felt wistful and adrift was when I was last reviewing my will, because there’s this knowledge that there are family treasures that are no longer in the family.
Talking about grief in the workplace. WOW! Talk about a Mic. Drop. Boom! Yes, please, we absolutely must talk about grief in the workplace. It would probably behoove every leader to periodically stop, interview if necessary, but make a list of who is currently grieving in one’s employees or team members. I can recall an occasion where there were five people grieving losses of close family members in the clinic where my office was located at the medical school: a daughter was brutally murdered, a spouse died, a sister died, a mother died, and a faculty member (physician in the clinic) died. These losses affected everyone in the building, and for the faculty member who died, this loss I would feel coming and going between the clinic (off campus) to the department on the main campus, where more people were grieving. Through in a couple of cancer experiences among several of the staff members, me, for one, and two had first-degree relatives undergoing treatment. The three of us formed a sort of informal support group.
I’m a huge believer in support groups, and if one’s organization is either large enough or has a large number of employees dealing with grief, see about starting a professionally supported grief support group at the workplace after hours, or at least help your employees find one. Many, many times it helps to talk to people walking the same journey, not to vent, but to share and to heal. Venting has been proved to be very detrimental to our mental health. And you might even come to this in your excellent work.
Thank you for sharing your grief journey so honestly with all of us. Thank you for taking on being a wildlife through grief as a ministry. That you for allowing the Holy Spirit for working though you to help you as well as others.
Peace🕊️
Thank you so much for your encouragement and your incredibly thoughtful and insightful comment.
As a writer putting my stuff out there, this type of response really means a lot to me!
Yes, writing or any creative endeavor, is very much look bringing forth life into this world. Suddenly you realize that your heart is walking around. Thank you for your ministry. Peace 🕊️
I look forward to following this one Jason.
My wife and I have lost a large number of family members in the last 9 years. We've lost brothers, uncles, grandparents, nephews, and most recently our son.
We've seen how poorly people handle it and handled it poorly ourselves at times. This is a good message to share and pass along.
Thank you brother. I appreciate you reading and adding your voice to the conversation!
That hits deep, Jason. Sorry, brother.
Thank you my friend
Dearest Jason - thank you for authentically leading and support those in grief through your grief. You have help me stay very aware of it to my colleagues, friends, and family! This contribution is important to remind us that our employees also need support because those who are grieving may have to still going on to work or be an active member in the community.
Yesterday - I took time for a dear colleague’s who died five years ago. His wife reached out to me and asked to come to his work place that he loved so much … we had coffee, went for a walk and I just let her talk about the event that lead to his passing, how she makes the best of each day and then let her tears flow out and hugged her … listen and listen deeply as I read and read deeply all Jason has to offer us.
With gratitude and a hug from afar dearest Jason❣️