LoVetta Jenkins's Blog - Posts Tagged "grief"
Good Grief
Over the course of the last year I lost both of the parents who raised me. First my "bonus" dad in March of 2020 and then my mother in November of 2020. I didn't think I'd ever be the same again. I drowned myself in work, activities and yes, sometimes, alcohol. I forced myself to not feel anything because the grief of losing them was too great.
Then, one day, I decided enough was enough and I wanted to face the grief head-on. I finally published my book "Sometimes, Sis, it's YOU!" after sitting on it for two months and, I started dealing with my emotions. The grief of losing my parents wasn't just some dark cloud that threatened to follow me everywhere, it was also the precious memories that came to mind at random times of the day. Remembering the way Dad laughed or the way Mom always had a twinkle in her eye.
I learned, overtime, that grief isn't always a bad thing. In the middle of all of my sadness and storms, there were rainbows of memories. The look of pride every time they saw me on stage. The look on their faces when I graduated college. The good grief is what carries me through the dark moments. The good grief is what comforts me when I really just want to sit and cry.
The good grief is what makes me realize that the love my parents had for each other was so big that they couldn't live without each other. . . literally. The good grief lets me know that , because they loved me, I'll be just fine.
If you're drowning in grief, think of it as a pool, you only drown if you don't decide to swim. Stay on top of it. Slice through it. You are greater than the grief and, if you have to surrender to it, make sure you surrender to the good grief.
Then, one day, I decided enough was enough and I wanted to face the grief head-on. I finally published my book "Sometimes, Sis, it's YOU!" after sitting on it for two months and, I started dealing with my emotions. The grief of losing my parents wasn't just some dark cloud that threatened to follow me everywhere, it was also the precious memories that came to mind at random times of the day. Remembering the way Dad laughed or the way Mom always had a twinkle in her eye.
I learned, overtime, that grief isn't always a bad thing. In the middle of all of my sadness and storms, there were rainbows of memories. The look of pride every time they saw me on stage. The look on their faces when I graduated college. The good grief is what carries me through the dark moments. The good grief is what comforts me when I really just want to sit and cry.
The good grief is what makes me realize that the love my parents had for each other was so big that they couldn't live without each other. . . literally. The good grief lets me know that , because they loved me, I'll be just fine.
If you're drowning in grief, think of it as a pool, you only drown if you don't decide to swim. Stay on top of it. Slice through it. You are greater than the grief and, if you have to surrender to it, make sure you surrender to the good grief.
