Journal to a Muse

Unattended Sorrow

Stephen Levine, a grief therapy specialist, initially wrote this book as a 32 page pamphlet to be given gratis to survivors of the September 11 terrorism. When the Red Cross let him know they couldn't use all of the materials that were being sent their way, he changed direction, expanded his text and produced this book.

I read up to page 42 this morning after breakfast.

I was cranky and out of sorts the rest of the day.

Then at Chili's over a terrific chipotle bleu-cheese hamburger, I found myself sobbing. As is our practice, DH and I had an honest conversation, even though he caught me trying to change the subject to sorrows HE might have left unattended. He listened, validated, comforted and championed me. I feel a bit more like myself now. I think there may be lots more crying to do before I can have the lightheartedness that comes from being clear about and accepting the details of large and small sorrows in my life. I'm going to start a list of "Things I have to be sad about" and try NOT to diminish them, or scold myself that "they aren't so bad."

"As the Buddha said, hard as it may be to embrace,
'You can look the whole world over and

never find anyone more deserving of love
than yourself.'"