Hard Lessons from Grief: How Trauma Reveals Your Real “Family”
Words can be empty. The painful truth is that you won’t truly know who your real friends are, who rightly belong in your “chosen family,” until a crisis hits. Grief and trauma serve as a crucible, testing the mettle of every relationship you hold. A true friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. – Walter Winchell What’s a friend? The word “friend” is often used loosely and is hard to define. Some people consider acquaintances their friends, and others save that label for those who are actively participating in their lives. Most people would agree that a friend is a person you have a bond of mutual affection with, someone you trust and who supports you. Some might define a friend as someone you enjoy being around and sharing experiences with. Others might say that a friend is simply someone you can rely on. In short, most would agree that a friend is someone you choose to have in your life and, perhaps more importantly, someone who chooses you back. When life is easy, friendships are also relatively easy to come by. Everyone loves to be around people who are in good moods, who share generously, and make life a little more exciting. But a true friend is a little harder to come by. A true friend is someone who sticks with you, even when life gets complicated, and shows up when things get hard. They will be there for you when you’re grieving, stressed, or facing challenges. The Vulnerability of Grief Grief makes you sad, tired, and overwhelmed. It strips away both distractions and security and makes you feel vulnerable and fragile. In this state of mind, you will need support, comfort, and maybe a shoulder to cry on more than [...]
