Another election. Another Veterans Day. Another round of triage. Yes, it's a new day. Welcome to Group.
Might be nice to start out this session by reminding everyone that those five Kubler-Ross stages of grief are not linear, bim, bam, boom, and all-done. Elisabeth Kubler Ross has herself had mixed feelings about coming up with that scale, saying it was always meant as a guideline, not a serial shopping list of tasks to be done, and crossed off in that specific order -- nor was it meant to exclude other facets.
So, as we move through our reactions and feelings, it might be helpful for us all to remember that each person experiences grief in his and her own way, and each person works through it in an individual way, too. There will be setbacks, repeats, stumbles, dance steps done out of order, time-outs, new steps added in...
Try to think of it as celebrating your own personality and path -- don't penalize yourself for grieving in your own way, in your own time, and in your own fashion. Mark your own progress with yourself, not others. Don't rush it.
Meanwhile, If you're looking for prescriptions, here's some that are pretty cheap, effective, and easy on the system: Build in more time for the people, events, and activities you already know you enjoy; pleasure, love, and laughter are nice distractions, so to say. Other suggestions? Music, movies, reading walks in the park; pamper yourself a little, treat yourself, and do it on purpose, with meditative Zen focus. Hug more, too.
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