A Love Letter to Grievers in the Midst of Coronavirus
We’re all kind of grieving right now.
Hi there, my beautiful Grief Growers —
The world is totally wigged right now. People are getting sick, and yes, people are dying because of coronavirus. It’s a strange time to be alive (side note: we’re only three months into 2020?!)… and it’s also a strange time to be grieving.
I don’t have any words to fix what’s going on or alleviate the swirling anxiety about the state of things. All I can say right now is that THIS FEELS A LOT LIKE GRIEF. Being on the edge of the unknown, holding your breath more than usual, not knowing what the future holds for you and the people around you… this feels a lot like grief. If you’re nervous, sleepless, or absolutely exhausted, you are not alone.
In this bizarre and ever-changing season, please know and remember:
- Everyone is afraid… and everyone expresses fear differently. Some people stockpile supplies, some people stay home, some people call/text every 10 minutes, etc.
- Your grief may feel twice as heavy now or you may put your grief on the back burner to focus on staying safe and healthy in the present. Both are okay.
- Some people are absolutely terrified of dying and some people make jokes about death. That is normal.
- People who lose a loved one to coronavirus will have and hold a very special kind of grief. Let them have it, and please respect and honor that real people are dying because of this pandemic.
- News outlets make money when we click, repost, and tune in to their messages. Stay as informed as you need to be, but take breaks when it gets overwhelming. For now, the consensus remains the same: avoid crowded places, don’t travel if you don’t have to, and wash your hands.
In this moment, I’m oscillating between a lot of emotions, trying to keep my feet on the ground in the midst of the chaos. And yet, as I do so, I can feel the ground slipping away. We — as a human race — have never done this before. This is all new. There is no rule book for “how this goes.” And that can be absolutely petrifying. As much as I can, I’m breathing in, breathing out, and giving myself and others grace in the midst of the collapse.
I don’t know how long this will last, but please know that I am holding such massive space for you and for all of us who are grieving while navigating the unknown-ness of coronavirus. You are not alone.
I see you, I’m proud of the work that you’re doing, and I love you. Because even through grief, we are growing —
♥ Shelby
Shelby Forsythia is the author of Permission to Grieve and the host of Coming Back: Conversations on Life After Loss. www.shelbyforsythia.com.
