It occurred to me that I’ve been grieving in some form or fashion since the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer on September 11, 2009. My recent experience with grief in the loss of my granddaughter has just brought all that to the forefront and made me examine how I’ve dealt with my pain for the past 17 years.
The very first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word cancer is, will I survive this? Am I going to die? Fear and grieving for the unknown takes hold as you begin to process your diagnosis. Then comes information overload as medical tests, staging, treatment plans, etc. start being discussed. Mostly you just want it not to be true but the harsh reality is that you’re going to have to face the beast and accept that your life will never be the same again.
I think that’s true for any type of grief you face whether it be a life threating illness or the loss of a loved one. Your life WILL never be the same again. How you choose to move forward is up to you. You might need to sit and soak in your grief for a bit; that’s okay. Don’t let anyone tell you that there’s a time frame you need to follow. Each person deals with grief in their own way. When you’re ready, you’ll find an outlet for your grief and others will benefit from the experience you’ve walked through. Just remember, it’s personal and only you can determine what’s right for you. Be patient with yourself and just keep getting up every day. Live your life the best you can and please don’t give up. Allow yourself to find joy again in the simple tasks of daily living, one step at a time.
Grief will change you but it can make you stronger.
Blessings, Cindy J
