Beverly Hume

From time to time, we all need a safe place to sort out our life knots. In my work as a coach, I’ve noticed that much of what gets us in knots comes from losses we’ve encountered in our lives. The list of losses we may experience in life can go on and on. While the death of a loved one or pet is often what comes to mind first when we think of loss and grief, there are many other losses in our lives. Loss from illness, accident, economic wellbeing, relationship loss, loss of community, even loss that comes when our life expectations aren’t met. Anything that we attach to and separate from, be it a person, place, thing, life role, or idea, will bring loss! Often, we stuff the grief we carry from our losses way down inside us. Then, another loss comes along, and all that grief we’ve tried to hold at bay comes flying out! One big loss I’ve encountered in my work has been identity loss, the loss of who we thought we were and how we related to world. This loss may come through illness, aging or traumatic experience. It can come through exclusion from a community, family unit, or organization that is important to us, especially as we strive to live as our most authentic selves. As a grief coach, I journey with and hold space for those who are mourning losses. I am a retired chaplain with experience serving the Veteran and older adult populations, and people who carry grief from being excluded from family and faith community because they are living their most authentic selves. Alan Wolfelt says, “To live well is to mourn well.” Are you ready to work through any grief that is keeping you from living well? I can be reached at [email protected].