Grief and Loss Support Check-in *New Years*
Grief and Loss Support Check-in
New Years
Hello, lovely grief and loss support community! Welcome to our weekly check-in.
How are we all doing? I hope that the week is being gentle to you and you find time to take care of yourselves. Happy New year friends. We officially have made it through the year and that is a huge accomplishment. I know for me this year has been quite challenging as for many of you. So please be proud of yourself for making it here no matter how you got here, no matter how messy that journey has been. Lately I have been hearing and seeing all about the new year's resolutions so I just want to share a gentle reminder to be gentle with yourself - there's no rule that says you must make dramatic changes just because it's January. Break any goals into very small, manageable steps rather than trying to transform everything at once. And lastly, It's completely normal and valid to struggle during this period. While there's often this pressure to feel renewed and motivated in January, many people experience all the other emotions instead. Whatever you are feeling, it's welcomed and valid here. I wish you all an amazing week and year ahead. I am always here for you and you are not alone.<3
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I would love to welcome you to participate in some reflection questions! Our weekly check-ins are an opportunity to get to know each other a little bit better and offer continual support. Feel free to answer as many or as few as you would like. Also, feel free to share anything on your mind or just say hi! Whatever you post; we eagerly await your response!
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Here are some reflections for the week
❀ How are you doing? Emotionally? Physically? Spiritually? ❀
❀ What hopes or goals do you have for 2025? ❀
❀ What support do you need this year? Are there any ways that this community can help support those needs for you? ❀
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We hope you all have a wonderful week. I look forward to hearing everyone’s responses, and please don't hesitate to reach out for support.
@CaringEzra Always lovely to hear from you and I appreciate these prompts.
I am doing well. How are you keeping, Ezra? One goal that I have for 2025 is to continue honing a new skill I learnt since last year. It is my hope that I’ll gradually improve. I really appreciate these lovely prompts. Also, I really liked the use of the image.
Keep up the great work. 💓
@GentleHealingInitiative
Thanks so much gentle! Hope you are having a good start to the new year and that you get lots of opportunities to practice your skills, you got this
Hello, @CaringEzra
The second half of 2024 sure had been tough. With two losses of an extended family member.. My grieving journey had been a rollercoaster ride, something I experienced for the first time. I went on a vacation the past December with my family (parents and older brother), and at the beginning of our trip, we were notified that my relatives decided to hold a funeral (they didn't want to at the very beginning when my uncle first passed away), so we ended up allocating 5 days of our vacation to attend the funeral. Our vacation was 3 weeks long, went to Japan.
With a recent visit with my GP, we have decided I can return to work. But as a gradual return, so only working 4 hour shifts, twice a week. Apparently there's a special process to follow, and my Manager had asked me to contact that department. So, I just sent off the email today and I'll see how it works.
This year, I'm working towards being more financially stable. I'll also continue to meet up with the members of the Grief Group Support I joined last September. Our program has ended, and the next one won't start until April, but the hosts have set up days to meet up at least once a month.
@Jaeteuk
Hey Jae thanks for joining the check in, it sounds like the second half of 2024 was quite challenging, the grief journey can be very challenging, complex and unexpected. it can mess up and change our lives in so many ways. Every day can bring its new highs and lows.
I hope that returning to work will be a good transition for you. Thats good to hear that it will be a gradual transition back. please be easy on yourself and know your limits.
I Hope that the new year brings you all good things and that you find better financial stability, It sounds like a nice group that you go to. its hard when support groups take breaks and you dont have that space to talk about your grief and such. But it is nice they setting up dates in the mean time. we are here for you always
Something happened with the group support.. I apparently did something I'm not allowed to (contact members personally, but it was to invite them to join me for my birthday dinner), so now it feels awkward talking to them or attending those dates for movie nights (although the host said I did nothing wrong, as it was their fault for not making it clear, but still.. because I was so hyped up in meeting this group of people and connecting with them, that I wanted to different birthday, to share it with them. But then, when I contacted the group their email, I was told by the host that I wasn't allowed to contact them without each of their permission.. then, she went off saying, now that I broke the trust/confidentiality, that they aren't able to use this source to communicate with the members.. so, not matter how much she says I did no wrong, it still felt like I broke some rules.. and now it feels I don't have a right to be part of the group anymore).. I haven't removed myself from the group chat yet.. but I have muted the notifications and do not plan to reply to them.. In the last email they sent out, I just mentioned that I'll be returning to work, so would not be able to attend the movie nights, nor attend the next session.. as sessions are from 7pm - 9pm on Tuesdays.. if I'm working, I work the evening shifts, and they said that if I know I'll miss more then 3 sessions, to not attend it altogether..
I'm just thinking, with this incident.. I'll go back only if my friend can attend too..
But yes, the second half of 2024 had be tough and rough with the grief, something that I experienced for the first time in my life..
I do hope this new year will be much better and work turns out okay when I return..
@CaringEzra