Here are 10 affirmations from my book, 101 Affirmations to Ease Your Grief Journey, available from Amazon.
- As I reconcile my losses, I give myself permission to say no to things I do not want to do.
- Sorrow gives new—and surprising—meaning to my life.
- When I think of sorrow, I think of it as a sacred experience and place.
- Down days don’t defeat me; they are an opportunity to feel better tomorrow.
- I have promises to keep to my deceased loved one, myself, and my life.
- Despite the pain, the one-year anniversary of my loved one’s death proves I am a survivor.
- I give myself permission to laugh and am refreshed by it.
- Writing my grief story is a way to honor my life and loved one.
- Words are powerful and I let the words I write empower me.
- Each morning I awaken with a sense of purpose.
I am eighty three years old and my son age sixty three died four months ago from cancer. One of his sons lives nearby and I have become very close to him, his wife and my precious great grandson who is three years old. They are moving to another state to be with my daughter in law, my son’s wife and now I have more sadness added. I feel great anxiety over them leaving as they were such a comfort and I know I comforted my grandson also. I have supported their move on the outside but in my heart I am devastated. I have had a large family with four children, eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and for years had a house full family for all occasions. I feel useless and empty and constantly looking to move away, although I still have three children that live close by. I learned to live with the expectation that my son would die, he fought cancer for five years and I watched him slowly succumb to his illness, I find it very difficult to face each day.
Dear Mary,
I am deeply sorry about the death of your son from cancer and the loneliness you are experiencing. You may benefit from joining The Compassionate Friends, an international organization for those who have suffered the loss of a child. I, too, watched my husband die and was his caregiver for 7 years. To cope with stress and grief, I tried to do something for myself each day. I also started doing doodle art and am a doodle artist today. Though you are about to become a long-distance grandparent, others have done this, and grandparenting websites may be beneficial. Stay in touch with grandkids via emails, Zoom, or old-fashioned letters. When you feel stronger, helping others may help you. You may volunteer, read to kids, or read to nursing home residents, for example. Sending virtual hugs to you.