People and places are the vital elements of the memories and emotions that make up and contribute to all our lives. We enjoy our families, relatives and friends, and select the environments where we are happy to live and work. These are aspects of life we all hold dear and value very much. In fact we actually try to protect and prolong for as much as possible all that we enjoy, especially the people that populate our lives. But as we journey through life we have to continually contend with the stark and sad reality brought about when we lose those special people that we love... Obviously the progression of age means that losing those special people will grow and this is not something that we can actually ever get used to...
Over recent years, months and weeks I have, personally, felt the heart break of losing many dear and much loved people...Each loss creatives an overwhelming sadness and each leaves a unique void....
Through this personal experience I have come to believe what we must do, when faced with the extreme sorrow of the loss of someone we loved, is focus on all the good and happy memories we have of them and being with them. This does more than simply lift our spirits, as such happy thoughts and memories of people are a positive contribution in the process of bereavement. Our shattered emotions need to heal. It is often said that time is a healer, though I am afraid I really do not feel that time can or does heal. Time takes us away from the initial impact of the shock of the loss
Just over a week ago, on Friday the 14th October 2022, I was in Glasgow to attend the funeral of Lorna, my dear sister in law. This was a most moving and beautiful commemoration of her life, lovingly organised by her four grieving sons. Lorna had many friends, and her loving kindness was well known to the people there who knew, loved and valued her. One very special feature of her funeral was the number of young people in attendance, the friends of her sons who, since their childhood, had always been so welcome in her home.
I knew Lorna for over forty years, we were good friends and she was most kind and supportive to me... It will take me a long time, if ever, to come to terms with the fact that she is no longer with us...I will do whatever I can to support each of my four nephews.
Some thoughts in reflection
KB 22 October 2022