Facing Grief and Loss

The continuing rise of COVID-19 deaths and the disproportionate impact on Black folks, the killing of Breonna Taylor, the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, the killing of George Floyd—the first six months of 2020 have been a lot for us to handle. And understandably, so has the grief that we all feel. Not only are we grieving loss of life, but also the loss of our way of life in many cases where simple gestures such as a handshake or a trip to the grocery store require more contemplation than they ever had before. The important thing about grief, though, is not to avoid it, but rather to go through it so you can begin to heal.

In a recent article I wrote for Sisters from AARP, I share how you can use a framework called The Four Tasks of Mourning (by psychologist and death education expert J. William Worden), how to move through those tasks, and how to feel better over time. Click here to read the full article.