There were so many voices in her head since his death, and they meshed into an angry crowd within her.  These discordant sounds pulled her into an abyss called grief.   As the voices blended together, she could not hear them clearly, drown them out or turn them off.  It was a time of profound sadness and she was uneasy, off balance, in a dark place that didn’t seem to have an Exit sign within sight.

At other times, the voice of grief came in at a different frequency ~ like a low, annoying and distracting hum, with no shut-off valve.  It left her feeling agitated, disoriented and unsure as how to move forward, how to put one foot in front of another.  It seemed as if daylight had arrived and was out of reach ~ too far in the distance for her to see.

Then, with the passing of time, a soft voice began to emerge from within. Eerily quiet and without static; it was gentle, compassionate and encouraging.  Perhaps it was guided by powers beyond her understanding or her grasp, but it didn’t really matter because she knew instinctively that she was hearing her own voice, her own spirit. So, she turned inward and listened.  To her surprise, as the fog of sorrow lifted, she experienced visions of clarity, glimmers of hope and tiny moments of happiness.

It was then that she understood the voice of grief had been comforted ~ not put away ~ but eased.   She had finally found the Entrance sign to her new life. Intuitively, she knew that she was emerging!

Laurel Rund 2011

 

Laurel D. Rund

It began in 2009 when a life-changing event transformed me into the woman I am today. Never could I have imagined that the death of my husband of 42 years would take me on a journey through loss and grief to a redefined sense of self. Death, an unexpected teacher, was my transformative metamorphosis. The slow and painful healing process unfolded my creativity and, in what I can only describe as a “new normal,” Essence of Laurel was born. "Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." Khalil Gibran My first book, “Emerging Voices” has a purpose ~ to serve as a journal and healing catalyst for anyone who has experienced a loss. The art and poetry within is a testimony as to what can happen when we acknowledge grief in all its forms. It allows for the discovery of a new perspective which will lead you on a journey of self-discovery and renewal. “Art from the Heart” has become my playground; a place where I can tap into my innermost creativity as an inspirational writer and artist. The surprise is that it came at a time when I thought that the next chapters in my life would be lonely; without purpose or passion. Instead I have been given the gift of a renewed sense of life, its possibilities and most importantly, an appreciation for living in the present moment. Our human experience, whether in a crisis or a life transition, continuously gives us the opportunity to learn and grow. We can choose to stay in a place of sorrow and regret, or embrace these life-altering experiences from which we can discover a new way of being. My hope is that my writing and ‘Art from the Heart’ touches and inspires you.

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