A reader writes: I am just 10 days away from the one year mark of my wife’s death, and the last few days have been horrible. I have that all-too-familiar feeling of dread in the pit in my stomach and I have a hard time concentrating on anything. I don’t know how to explain my mood to my seven-year-old son. All I would love to do is to go to sleep for those 10 days and wake up afterwards. I know that in this journey I am going to take some steps backwards and believe me the backwards steps are not as severe as in the beginning, but I just can’t stand feeling this way.
My response: It may help to know that many people find death-date anniversaries difficult, since they serve as such potent reminders of all that we have lost. Keep in mind, however, that in many ways, this day will be no more (or less) difficult to get through than any other day you’ve had to face since your wife died. Anniversary dates are really no more than dates on a calendar, and they hold no more power over us than we are willing to give them. More often than not, many people find that the anticipation of the day is far worse than the actual day itself.
Like everything else in grief, you can choose to deal with what you’re dreading by avoiding it all together, or by facing it head-on, holding the firm belief that you’ve made it through this far, and you will make it through this, too. Some mourners decide to think of this first-year-anniversary date as an “expected event” that can be understood as a rite of passage, a turning point, or a marker for a change in attitude, setting you free from that very difficult first year.
I happen to think that the worst thing you can do is to let this day sneak up on you without planning for it ahead of time. I encourage you to develop some sort of strategy that includes a Plan A and a Plan B. Whatever you plan to do with the day is completely up to you (even if you plan intentionally to do nothing at all – but at least that is your plan). You might consider involving your son in your plans – children this age can be so creative in their ideas! You could say to him, for example, that a very special day is coming up, a day of remembrance for Mommy, and the two of you need to think of some special things you can do to remember Mommy on that day.
I want to share with you some lovely ideas offered by Harold Ivan Smith, a dear man, prolific author, teacher, storyteller, grief counselor and teacher, who is often featured as the keynote speaker at national grief conferences and workshops. The following ideas come from one of his wonderful presentations I was privileged to attend in Phoenix, Arizona a few years ago.
You can borrow from a Jewish tradition called a Yahrzeit (pronounced yard-site) ceremony, which is a ceremonial way of acknowledging the anniversary of a death. Some Jews go to a synagogue or temple to recite a prayer, but in addition, they remind themselves of the loved one who has died by burning a 24-hour-candle in the hours leading up to the anniversary. (Yahrzeit memorial candles are sold in Jewish religious supply stores, but you can also find them in the Kosher section of the grocery store. They’re encased in metal, they cost less than a dollar, and they burn for 26 hours. If you’re concerned about leaving a candle burning overnight or when you’re not in the room, Harold Ivan suggests that you place the candle in water in the kitchen sink. Using a flameless LED votive candle is another option.)
You can write a letter to your beloved, beginning with how you’ve been doing since her death. Then:
•Write about what you miss most
•Write about any regrets you have in your relationship
•Write anything you wish you had said prior to the death
•Write what you wish your loved one had said to you
•Describe how you are coping, what makes you laugh and cry now
•Close with any personal message you would like to include
•Describe one of your favorite holiday / special day memories
Take the letter you write to your loved one’s grave site (or some other special place) to be read aloud, then burn it in your fireplace or BBQ grill.
Then, write a letter from your loved one back to you. Ask yourself: How would she answer you?When finished, fold her letter into a small enough size that when you put it into a box it will rattle. Then wrap it as a gift and, when you need it, simply rattle it – so you’ll know it’s a gift from your beloved.
Arrange for Jews to say the mourner’s Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead. (Say Kaddish is an online service that arranges Kaddish to be said, according to tradition, on behalf of whomever you choose).
Light a candle for hope and remembrance. (If you like, you can do so online, at Light a Candle ~ Online Memorial Ritual)
Other ideas that can be used (on birthdays and holidays, too):
•Choose environmentally-friendly alternatives to sending off balloons
•Set a place at the table for your loved one on that special day
•Light a special candle and share a memory of the loved one
•Tell stories of the person; invite others to do this before a meal, before gift-opening, etc.
•Sing, or listen to a favorite song about the deceased
•Create an ornament to hang on a tree, a wreath or the wall
•Visit a special place that holds memories of your loved one; if you cannot tolerate staying for an entire meal, go for coffee or dessert
•Write a letter to your loved one. Consider reading it to someone else
•Create a website to honor your loved one. (You can ask the family computer “nerd” to do this for you)
•Buy your loved one a present and donate it to a charity, as “a gift from [the person who died]”
•Make your loved one’s favorite meal or dessert
•Plant a tree, bush, or flower
•Say a special prayer
•Make a quilt with the clothing of your loved one
•Change old traditions and begin new ones
•Place a memoriam notice in the newspaper
•Burn a CD of your loved one’s favorite music
•Sponsor a cultural event during the season in your loved one’s name
•Create a memory book
•Donate to / volunteer for a special cause in your loved one’s name
•Find a way to give something to someone else
•Celebrate as you can – not as you can’t!
Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.
Related:
My response: It may help to know that many people find death-date anniversaries difficult, since they serve as such potent reminders of all that we have lost. Keep in mind, however, that in many ways, this day will be no more (or less) difficult to get through than any other day you’ve had to face since your wife died. Anniversary dates are really no more than dates on a calendar, and they hold no more power over us than we are willing to give them. More often than not, many people find that the anticipation of the day is far worse than the actual day itself.
Like everything else in grief, you can choose to deal with what you’re dreading by avoiding it all together, or by facing it head-on, holding the firm belief that you’ve made it through this far, and you will make it through this, too. Some mourners decide to think of this first-year-anniversary date as an “expected event” that can be understood as a rite of passage, a turning point, or a marker for a change in attitude, setting you free from that very difficult first year.
I happen to think that the worst thing you can do is to let this day sneak up on you without planning for it ahead of time. I encourage you to develop some sort of strategy that includes a Plan A and a Plan B. Whatever you plan to do with the day is completely up to you (even if you plan intentionally to do nothing at all – but at least that is your plan). You might consider involving your son in your plans – children this age can be so creative in their ideas! You could say to him, for example, that a very special day is coming up, a day of remembrance for Mommy, and the two of you need to think of some special things you can do to remember Mommy on that day.
I want to share with you some lovely ideas offered by Harold Ivan Smith, a dear man, prolific author, teacher, storyteller, grief counselor and teacher, who is often featured as the keynote speaker at national grief conferences and workshops. The following ideas come from one of his wonderful presentations I was privileged to attend in Phoenix, Arizona a few years ago.
You can borrow from a Jewish tradition called a Yahrzeit (pronounced yard-site) ceremony, which is a ceremonial way of acknowledging the anniversary of a death. Some Jews go to a synagogue or temple to recite a prayer, but in addition, they remind themselves of the loved one who has died by burning a 24-hour-candle in the hours leading up to the anniversary. (Yahrzeit memorial candles are sold in Jewish religious supply stores, but you can also find them in the Kosher section of the grocery store. They’re encased in metal, they cost less than a dollar, and they burn for 26 hours. If you’re concerned about leaving a candle burning overnight or when you’re not in the room, Harold Ivan suggests that you place the candle in water in the kitchen sink. Using a flameless LED votive candle is another option.)
You can write a letter to your beloved, beginning with how you’ve been doing since her death. Then:
•Write about what you miss most
•Write about any regrets you have in your relationship
•Write anything you wish you had said prior to the death
•Write what you wish your loved one had said to you
•Describe how you are coping, what makes you laugh and cry now
•Close with any personal message you would like to include
•Describe one of your favorite holiday / special day memories
Take the letter you write to your loved one’s grave site (or some other special place) to be read aloud, then burn it in your fireplace or BBQ grill.
Then, write a letter from your loved one back to you. Ask yourself: How would she answer you?When finished, fold her letter into a small enough size that when you put it into a box it will rattle. Then wrap it as a gift and, when you need it, simply rattle it – so you’ll know it’s a gift from your beloved.
Arrange for Jews to say the mourner’s Kaddish, the Jewish prayer for the dead. (Say Kaddish is an online service that arranges Kaddish to be said, according to tradition, on behalf of whomever you choose).
Light a candle for hope and remembrance. (If you like, you can do so online, at Light a Candle ~ Online Memorial Ritual)
Other ideas that can be used (on birthdays and holidays, too):
•Choose environmentally-friendly alternatives to sending off balloons
•Set a place at the table for your loved one on that special day
•Light a special candle and share a memory of the loved one
•Tell stories of the person; invite others to do this before a meal, before gift-opening, etc.
•Sing, or listen to a favorite song about the deceased
•Create an ornament to hang on a tree, a wreath or the wall
•Visit a special place that holds memories of your loved one; if you cannot tolerate staying for an entire meal, go for coffee or dessert
•Write a letter to your loved one. Consider reading it to someone else
•Create a website to honor your loved one. (You can ask the family computer “nerd” to do this for you)
•Buy your loved one a present and donate it to a charity, as “a gift from [the person who died]”
•Make your loved one’s favorite meal or dessert
•Plant a tree, bush, or flower
•Say a special prayer
•Make a quilt with the clothing of your loved one
•Change old traditions and begin new ones
•Place a memoriam notice in the newspaper
•Burn a CD of your loved one’s favorite music
•Sponsor a cultural event during the season in your loved one’s name
•Create a memory book
•Donate to / volunteer for a special cause in your loved one’s name
•Find a way to give something to someone else
•Celebrate as you can – not as you can’t!
Your feedback is welcome! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question, or share a tip, a related article or a resource of your own in the Comments section below. If you’d like Grief Healing Blog updates delivered right to your inbox, you’re cordially invited to subscribe to our weekly Grief Healing Newsletter. Sign up here.
Related:
- 6 Ways to Invite Love to A Death Anniversary
- A Personal Grief Ritual of Remembrance and Release
- Continuing Bonds: Your Evolving Relationship with Someone Who Died
- Creating a Grief Ritual: Love, Loss and Continuing Bonds
- Creating Rituals to Move Through Grief
- Don't Get On The Anniversary Train
- First Anniversary of Grief after Pulse Shootings
- Grief Rituals Can Help on Valentine's Day (Or Any Special Day)
- In Grief: Remembering Is An Active Process
- Is 'Deathiversary' Actually A Word?
- It's Your Anniversary, And Your Husband Is Dead
- Managing A Death Anniversary
- Memorials ~ Funerals ~ Rituals: Links to Resources
- Performance Artist Uses Ritual to Move Collective Grief
- The 9 Things No One Tells You about Scattering Ashes
- Tips for Coping with Anniversary Reactions in Grief
- Transition After Loss: Tips for Navigating the Neutral Zone
- The Power of Creating Grief Rituals After the Loss of a Loved One
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome!