Grief Ed 101
As the summer break ends, and kids and college students head back to class, many of us also feel the need to turn over a new leaf. Much like January 1st, the beginning of school marks a “new year”, even when we aren’t enrolled in school.
Just as in school, beginning this new season and cycle can be an opportune time to make changes in how we want to "show up" for our "new year". It can be a time to take inventory of ourselves, restock our supplies/resources, assess what's working or not working, and what our goals are in our healing process. Here are some thought-provoking questions that may be useful in creating a "syllabus" for a successful new year of healing:
What's your learning style?
Are you a visual learner, for example, do you grow and learn best by reading grief books? Do you heal by listening to others, or by experiential or creative methods? (The Christi Center's "2nd Stage/ 2nd Mondays" series is one way to explore a new skill for healing.)
What "subject areas" are difficult for you....i.e., are there areas you feel stuck in your grief?
If you need additional help or resources, consider getting some individual help from a mental health professional to complement your existing group experience. The Christi Center maintains a list of referrals of those professionals in our area that specialize in grief work.
How is your support system working for you?
What are your goals for the new year? (Without expecting an "A+")
The most important thing is to validate any small measure of progress or effort, to be patient with yourself as you learn new skills, and to notice how far you've come since you started your journey.
If you are supporting a student who is grieving, our Peer Support & Kids Who Kare Coordinator, Christi Neville has written a couple of blog posts to help you support the kids in your life.
