Submitted by Walking Through Grief Society: 780-846-2576 / 780-871-1750
Funded by FCSS Town of Vermilion, Wainwright, Village of Kitscoty, County of Vermilion River.
The changing seasons’ experience of fog has been a #1 weather topic for a while now. When you think of fog, you might reflect on the following:
You can’t see through it and travel is difficult.
You can’t see clearly ahead, and you feel anxious at the unknown ahead.
Travel must be slower, and you must be more cautious.
The obstacles ahead can’t be seen.
It is difficult trying to follow a light or a sign ahead.
The darkness causes a feeling of gloomy depression.
When the fog lifts, there may be a bit the delight with the glimpse of light.
I pondered the effects of the fog on a person and found the comparison of the fog around us to living in “the fog” of grief. When someone in your life dies, it can put you in a fog. The fog of grief rolls into your life causing you to be unable to see the journey ahead, and you must pause to grasp the change and the unknown ahead. The dark fog of grief can commonly lead to experiencing a range of emotions, such as a sadness, anxiety, or depression. When it is impossible to see through the fog as to where we are going and what is ahead, there is a need to follow a light in the darkness. This may be the light of someone else on the journey ahead of you.
What about the obstacles of the fog? We might experience several obstacles in our healing journey as we try to make sense of a well wishing friend’s advice, the depression and anxiety, fears, guilt, anger, blame, loneliness, isolation, decisions, and adjustment to change. We may question, will there ever be light again or will the cloud of grief ever pass?
With the weather’s experience of fog, we eventually find a glimpse of light. In the fog of grief, that small light ahead to follow may be support from a trusted friend, a counsellor, or perhaps a support group of those who have travelled the road of grief through the fog. These supporters may help guide you through the fog and help find ways to cope with the new and different life you have now entered.
There will come a time when the fog of grief will gently lift and light and direction will be able to be more easily seen. There will be a new and very different life ahead. You may be navigating this life with deep scars of such deep emotional pain; however, you are still navigating it the best you can. As in weather, the fog lifts and light shines on the trees and snow and gives a different kind of beauty, that same light will be found in the supports you have found on the journey and the awareness that there is hope and light after the darkness of loss. Skills will be learned to move through the fog of grief, and you will now seek to find ways to honor your loved one by how you are living your life.
May you find your fog lifting and if you wish to comment please email wtgriefsupp@xplornet.ca
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