Surprises of Mourning
Although people commonly think about grief in terms of something negative and painful, it was the husband who realized that it had gifts that could not have been foreseen. For him, his wife’s sudden death could not be worse than that; however, it did make him reflect on life in a manner he hadn’t thought about before. It was the grief that made him reappraise his relations, values, and goals. In some respects, it deepened his bond with the people he loved and reminded him of just how fragile life was.
One of the perks of mourning was a newfound ability to look for meaning in the small things. He learned to find an awe in things he had never considered important previously- walking in the park, talking to a friend, or the presence of his family to comfort him- just to be there. The anger at the world around him slowly dissipated as he began living in the present instead of taking everything for granted. Healing, which he didn’t expect at all, slowly crept into him.
In addition to that, the cycle of grief made him capable of enjoying vulnerability. He gave himself the space to feel the pain and allow himself to respond candidly to the immense sadness felt inside, and he allowed others to become his support when all else failed. Such openness not only made it easier for him to deal with the person he is, but also made him closer to those around him. Such openness in sharing one’s grief with others made him become less isolated and more a part of this world.
