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The Waves of Grief

There has been so much activity in the last few months, it has been easy to forget about the dates on the calendar until they sneak up on you.  Between book release events, CJSTUF activities, and my new job, I have had plenty to keep me busy.  

At the same time, I feel my heart getting a little heavier every day.  I think it started right before Memorial Day. We were finalizing our vacation plans, looking forward to spending a few days with family at my father in-law's house in Tennessee.  I realized, looking at the calendar, that our vacation would end on July 8.  I would be back to work on July 9: Charlotte's seventh birthday.  

Each day since that realization, life has been a little more challenging.  I feel more emotional.  I feel stressed. 

Sometimes I wonder if I am feeling more stress about her birthday because of all of the other stressful things in my life right now (work, lack of time, etc.)? Is it challenging just because I am heaping something new onto an already huge pile of challenges?

Or am I feeling more stress at work because I sense this darkness seeping into my consciouness? 


I know that this is normal.  I know that these feelings are part of the grief process.  As the waves of grief ebb and flow, the tide crests at the peak of holidays like waves at the height of a full moon.  Sometimes it helps to rationalize.  Sometimes I just want to wade and wallow in my grief.  I just do my best to avoid drowning. 

Right after Charlotte died, a very wise person continually repeated a mantra to me: 
"Be gentle with yourself."

I am taking those words to heart.  I let myself cry when the iPod plays just the right song. I walk away from stressful events that I know may trigger a flood of emotions.  I laugh when I can (thanks, ComedySportz!).  I am learning to give myself a break.  The moon will wane, the tide will subside.  I know I will find peace again.  

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