Filling The Open Spaces

A lot has gone from my life in the past year. I feel the empty spaces they have left. It is unsettling and I feel a sense of loss.

What We Have Lost

It is not news that we have been through a lot since 2020. Many things have been lost. It is time to take stock. What has left our lives and what remains? There is such a diversity of things that have been lost – from small and insignificant to large and irreplaceable. From personal relationships to health to freedoms we once enjoyed.

In so much of this, we had no choice. Events came upon us with great speed. Our lives and work were suddenly very different. We had to respond, almost immediately. A part of us was in shock. The changes were not familiar or anticipated. There was no time to prepare. What was gone was gone. The present was very different.

We realize now the extent of losses we have endured. A good deal of time has passed. The losses continue. We are not out of this yet. More may be lost. We are adjusting and also realizing the transformative nature of this time. Change brings loss, as well as gain.

Grieving And Remembering

With all loss, there is a passage to make. What is lost is not instantaneously replaced. We must recognize what has occurred and take stock. Our emotions need expression. Our minds need to grasp what has taken place. Without doing this, we cannot progress. Our losses will hold onto us and prevent us from moving forward freely.

Each of us finds our own way to express grief for what has been lost. For some, it is emotional expression. For some, grief takes place in the mind. For others, grief occurs within community. Others prefer isolation. Grief is intensely personal and must be respected as such. There is no one way and no room for the judgement of others.

Part of our grieving can be expressed by remembering what has gone. We can think back to 2019 and the nature of our lives then. It will become clear what is lost. We can remember what mattered to us. Doing so then brings us into the present moment.

Take A Look Around

As we let go of what used to be, we can start taking a look around at how our lives are now. This process of observation informs us. We can see what remains and how we are responding to loss and change. We can take stock of what we want and what we need in our present lives. This will bring us perspective and even wisdom.