The Path of Grief

How to Say Good-Bye to a Loved One Who is DyingThe path of grief is explored in various ways. That grief is part of life is one of the conclusions Dr. Winifred affirms. Grief isn't something to get over. Rather, we learn new ways to live that are rich and meaningful. This is our Imagined Future. She explores the life journey of her father, dying of cancer, and the shared borders with her own life. She asks the reader the same questions. The impact of grief changes the daily structure of our life, and we need to tell others how we miss the loved one who has passed on. Grief and healing are treated in very human ways, asking the reader to compare their journey. Looking back at a life, asking the usual questions, and exploring the way memories help us grieve and heal, we learn what the dead can teach us about life. Death can be life altering, and a time for us to search for our own identity. Using snippets of poetry throughout, the reader is taken through the grieving process.

For instance, an early chapter is titled: "Ranting & Raving."
Towards the middle, a chapter is titled: "On Grief & Missing Pieces."
Another is named: "Betwixt & Between."
Towards the end, a chapter is called: "Fare Forward, Voyager."
It's a life journey.The basic steps of the Path of Grief are:

• Revel in your Stream of Memories & share them.
• Cry
• Follow Rituals & Customs
• Consciously Initiate Customs & Traditions
• Identify Your Feelings
• Choose Companions for Your Path
• Recognize or Establish a 'Home Base'
• Allow for Possibility
• Learn & Begin to Hope
• Be Open to Active Experience
• Imagine the Future

Included in the book (in the back) are 23 Grief Exercises that match the chapters. They include Meditation Exercises, a Grounding Worksheet, Writing a Letter, Memories, Setting & Achieving Goals, Defining a Theme, and much more.