I was recently asked to write up some instructions for the substitute for my monthly grief group. In looking up some reference materials and thinking about how to explain grief I also heard a description from my pastor about her take on how we are impatient with grief. She pointed out that we have tamed most aspects of life - food acquisition to deal with our hunger, air conditioning and forced heat to help us deal with uncomfortable temperatures, modern transportation to let us quickly go from one place to another, etc. However, when it comes to loss there are no shortcuts to 'getting better'. It is a messy journey, and one that each of us will have to go through.
I'd like to share a few websites that I found helpful. When you are grieving, be good to yourself, and when those you care about are dealing with loss, be good to them.
Grief Don't Cheer Me UpThe Five Stages of GriefCoping With the Loss of a Pet