As a long-time performer – singer/songwriter – many events from my private life have appeared in songs. When my brother took his own life, and many years later, when my beloved husband of thirty years suddenly died, I brought those experiences to the stage as well in the form of songs and stories.
Because that kind of public sharing is unusual, the theme struck a chord with members of the audience. I talked with many of them about how I was dealing with these tragic losses. And people have often asked me how I was able to sing and share my feelings about these deaths onstage.
The 7 tips below reflect some of the things I learned about my own grieving process. The words come from personal experience on ways to deal with grief.
7 Ways To Deal With Grief
1. Talk about your loved one – a lot.
I knew that people would wonder if they should bring up Nicholas’s name. They would wonder if I would burst into tears and suffer from the questions. The truth was that I yearned to talk with people about him. I felt better in doing so.
I think that in talking, we keep that person closer to us. When a person you love has recently died, there is often a feeling that they are still "here." Perhaps just behind a veil or just barely out of sight. Talking about him/her keeps that mysterious presence – present.
