Posted by seldomseen on July 16, 2009, at 6:14:40
We lost one of our most beautiful majestic tigers this week where I volunteer. The grief I feel is pronounced and has sort of settled like a fog.
It's hard to express this sadness to others because they always try to comfort me - pointing out he had a long life, was well treated, and was loved. All of this is true, but it doesn't change the fact that I am sad about his passing. Sometimes, in fact, I find it very invalidating, like I shouldn't feel sad, but I know that's not their intent.
But I do wonder why some people are so intent on NOT feeling sad, even when there is a valid reason to.
It was very nice to express this sadness to my T, who didn't feel compelled to end the sadness, but recognized it as valid and just allowed it to exist. He just let me talk about it.
Oddly enough, his approach actually did make me feel better, not necessarily about my loss, but that I feel sad about it and that it's okay.
Seldom.
poster:seldomseen
thread:907022
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090706/msgs/907022.html