I felt compelled to write this blog post after a comment was made on my Facebook page following an image I had posted.
The poster was indicating that at this time during the COVID-19 pandemic, posts about death are seen as negative and ideally more positive posts should be shared and I wanted to share my thoughts around this subject.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an awful time for many people on so many different levels. Job losses, businesses going under, the economic devastation to our country and the deaths. Not to mention the overall wellbeing and mental health of each and every one of us that are coping as much as we can on a daily basis. I totally get it. It’s not a nice time for many people.
Talking about death shouldn’t be seen as a negative thing though in my opinion. I’ve made it part of my mission to not only help to reassure and comfort those who have lost loved ones but also to help people see that a death positive experience is possible. Death can change people and leave those who are living in a state that can impact their lives drastically and not in a good way. My job is to help you navigate those changes. Embracing them where possible as growth lessons and flourishing as a result. Is it easy to do? Not at all and I am certainly not playing down the impact death can have on people.
The reality, during times such as these, is that there will be more deaths than usual and death does not pick favourites. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of young and old, rich and poor, healthy and at-risk across the world. My goal at this time is to teach you how to find comfort when you feel alone, find joy in your sadness, and create life where there has been death.
Sometimes I like to throw in a joke or two, just to make sure you are paying attention.
Talking about death and our experiences around it is just one of the ways of coping. In my experience, those that shy away from talking about death are the ones that have the hardest of times adjusting. You may not agree with me or my opinions and that’s ok too. I wasn’t given this mission to connect with everyone.
For those who do resonate with me, I ask that just like the Bell initiative around mental health, let’s keep talking about death, sharing our experiences and helping others to cope and learning to not look at death as the end, but the beginning of the next adventure!