Rebuilding After Loss
Do the work that has to be done one at a time
Three days of freezing rain turned trees at our sanctuary into glass ornaments. The breathtaking beauty, however, burdened them with the weight they could not bear.
On the second day, we began hearing the cries of the branches, splitting from the trunks and falling to the ground. When the sun reappeared, the damage to our beloved oak and ash juniper trees was apparent: the fallen branches were everywhere in our yard, tangled with each other and blocking the paths. The broken limbs exposed the rough surface to the blue sky.
It took decades for the trees to grow to maturity, but they accepted their sudden loss gracefully. So, we follow nature’s lead. We get up, assess the situation, and do the work that has to be done: take down the hanging branches, cut them into smaller pieces, haul them to the fire pit, and burn them.
It will take us a lot of time to complete the work. It’s overwhelming to think about the whole process, so we focus on the day’s task: it could be hauling the branches on a section of the meditation path or the bird feeding area. We allocate some time to yard work every day and quit when it’s up. No pushing ourselves too hard, just completing tasks one at a time and celebrating our progress along the way.
This is how we rebuild after our loss — not just the loss of trees but our loved ones, treasured possessions, health, and other tangible and intangible things dear to our hearts.
Let’s help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Here are a few NGOs that we can donate to:
GlobalGiving
Save the Children
Project HOPE
Start by doing what’s necessary, then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
— Saint Francis of Assisi
Surapsari ("Sari") is a board-certified life coach with a mindfulness approach.
Visit her websites for more information about her services.
surapsari.com
lifetransitionguidance.com