Saturday, April 19, 2014

Running From Grief

 

April 11, 2014

Running from Grief.  Like Tom Hanks as the Forest Gump character, after the love of his life walked out of his life yet again, "just started running". I look back at the last 4 1/2 months and realize, I too have been running from my own grief. I have kept myself so busy that I do not get to explore or examine the subtle reminders that I no longer have the love of my life to lean on, talk to or plan out our lives with. I avoid the sadness by laughing and joking about things most would not think funny. My running is not from Ron, it is from the pain, sorrow and anguish that grief creates.

Why is it after a year and half, just when I thought things were getting easier to cope with, did I start to run?  I believe there comes a point on this grief journey when you just decide you don't want to be sad anymore.  You can't erase the pain, so the next best thing is to always remain a few steps ahead of it and if it gets close, just run a little faster, add a few more activities to the day and numb out. I immersed myself in my business, working at the hospital, being a Girl Scout leader and all of my daughter's activities. I also stopped writing this blog (did you even notice?) and taking a look at my own grief because when I write, I must admit that I am grieving. 

I also noticed I was venturing into that scary, unknown world of "online dating".  Along with my other widow friends, we each put up a profile to see what the dating world might look like. I was convinced that I could take that step into bringing another into my life to fill the holes of pain, sadness and loneliness and all I could think of is if I fill it - the pain will cease. I was so wrong. The reality is as I come up for air for the first time in months, I am not ready to bring anyone into my heart let alone my life. I am still so wounded, so raw and not anywhere near balanced. I have a lot of work to do to get myself to a place where I am able to welcome another. I remember how complete, balanced and whole I was when I met Ron.  I was ready and open and that is why he came into my life.  We were ready for each other.  I want to be like that before I find someone to walk the next part of my own life's journey.

I still cry when I think of Ron. I still miss him in the most gut wrenching way. I think about him 100 times a day.  He is everywhere around me, in every bird's song, in the whisper of the wind and the brightness of the sunlight. He is in my daughter's laughter and smile and the tear when she is sad.

Grief is a journey, made up of many thousands of tiny steps.  Some span a longer distance than others and some just land in the same place as the one before.  To lift the foot and make the attempt - that is the triumph.

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