Grief and Gratitude

How do I love people the way they need to be loved? My conversation partner today – Erin Weber Johnson – brings us full circle to that question. This is the second time Erin has joined me on this podcast – she was also my guest on episode 5 which I titled – Being Connected. We continue some of the threads started there – with a focus on how we love people, including ourselves, not based on assumptions or self-imposed responsibility – but by doing something courageous – asking a question – what do you need?

At the start I needed to tell Erin some of where I was coming from, I’d been at the hospital the night before with a family because a family member had very unexpectedly died. All of us, me included, feel things we need to think about when we connect with people in shock and grief. Erin and I share a belief that sadness, grief, sorrow, - feelings of loss are so present in our collective lives – and we need spaces to talk about it – reflect on those feelings that are hard to feel.

Don’t worry – we laugh in this conversation too – I promise. Don’t you find that the people you laugh the hardest with – are also the ones you can cry in front of too? What is it about the connection of those feelings, my friends – to me, gratitude always holds some grief – because in letting ourselves see what there is to be grateful for – taking the time to honor whatever that is – an event, a person, a meal – we also acknowledge that it is temporary – the event will end – the person will leave – the meal will be finished – dishes cleaned – and everyone will go home.

Meals and holidays – food and feelings – that comes up too. I hope you find topics and ideas in this conversation that kindle your imagination, as Erin says – and prompt your own questions about what you need these days. With gratitude for your listening presence – let’s get to our conversation.