Communal Grieving

Loss is not typically a time that should be measured, it should be an individual journey; without the pressure of timelines and expectations of what sorrow should ‘look’ like.

The absence of someone beloved by a community could only be made more unfortunate by its tragic suddenness. In trying times, when the community works together there is a realization of their collective strength. The same can be said in times of grief.

Sobonfu Some from her blog post Embracing Grief says: “Communal grieving offers something that we cannot get when we grieve by ourselves. Through acknowledgment, validation, and witnessing, communal grieving allows us to experience a level of healing that is deeply and profoundly freeing.”

Setting up a peer led grief group at a local library or other public venue is only one of many ideas to facilitate the importance of being heard and validated through mourning while processing the loss collectively.

Support one another as you adjust. There should be a little more kindness and understanding as it is absolutely normal for unexpected emotions to catch you off guard. It may even amaze you that you never though you would feel this way. That too is normal. Don’t pretend the loss didn’t occur, honor that loss in the spirit, memory and perhaps even memorial, if you can’t in tears or emotion. Unlike cultures of the Mediterranean where an outward show of wailing and hair pulling is normal, other cultures remain stoic, seemingly devoid of emotion. Not being able to cry is far from not feeling emotion, it is significantly more difficult and can come with health repercussions.

Where there is the sudden loss of a colleague, families and friends that are grieving should embrace the significance of their importance to each other to foster healing and acceptance together.

Written by Elizebeth Kischook, End of Life Doula

Ingredients

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 can (14.5 ounces) petite diced tomatoes

1 can (15 ounces) sweet corn, drained

1 can (12.5 ounces) chicken breast, drained & flaked (or about 2½ cups cooked/shredded chicken)

1 can (28 ounces) green enchilada sauce

1 can (14 ounces) chicken broth

1 packet (2 tablespoons) taco seasoning

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon garlic powder

Topping

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded limes for garnish tortilla chips, for serving