Summary

The author reflects on finding strength and resilience after the loss of a loved one during quarantine, drawing comfort from nature, family, and inspirational writings.

Abstract

The author describes the personal struggle of coping with the recent loss of their father-in-law to double pneumonia amidst the isolation of quarantine life. Despite initial difficulty in writing, the author finds solace in the natural environment and the familiarity of home. Inspirational articles from Medium publications such as Koinonia, Illumination, and a Few Words provide further encouragement. The author's nieces, with their innocence and joy, serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder to embrace life fully. The piece concludes with the author's realization that authenticity in writing and living each moment to its fullest are crucial lessons learned from the grieving process.

Opinions

The author values the therapeutic effect of writing as a means to process emotions and cope with loss.
Nature's soothing presence is seen as a source of comfort during times of grief.
Reading inspirational messages from others can offer strength and perspective during difficult times.
The joy and resilience of children are viewed as a powerful antidote to sorrow and a catalyst for healing.
Authenticity in personal expression, especially in writing, is considered essential for connecting with others on a meaningful level.
The experience of loss reinforces the importance of cherishing every moment and living life fully.

Finding the Strength to Keep Going

Moving through the crashing waves

It’s been 8 days since my father-in-law passed away from double pneumonia and four days since his funeral. I wrote this article about losing Pop during quarantine life. It was good getting my feelings out.

Dealing with Loss During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Losing my father-in-law during quarantine life

medium.com

Today, I tried to get back in the writing groove, but it was extremely difficult. I had planned to finish edits on an article I started two weeks ago, but everything I wrote felt stiff — like it wouldn’t resonate with anyone, so why should I even keep working on it right now.

Change of pace

So, I decided to take a break from writing — or actually staring at my half finished article, and went outside to sit on my deck. I closed my eyes for a bit and enjoyed the breeze in the cool 62 degree weather.

Our deck is off the second floor on the side of the house, right next to a large empty field. On windy days, it feels like a wind tunnel up there. Today, I didn’t mind the wind. It felt comforting as I listened to the sounds around me.

Two women were walking on the road and I heard snippets of their conversation.

The neighbor’s dog started barking at another couple and their dog as they passed by a few minutes later.

I opened my eyes and saw that a Blue Jay flew by and perched on the corner or the deck railing. I heard birds chirping in the nearby trees.

All of this brought a sense of calm over me. The familiarity of being home after the rough time our family endured last week and in the ensuing days, gave me peace.

After about ten minutes of just being still and soaking in the peace, I opened the Medium app on my phone and read some articles. I read several articles from the Koinonia, Illumination, and a Few Words publications.

These inspirational messages by Mishael Witty @mishael_26148, Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D. @kathryn.leroy, and Cristian Mihai @crsmihai resonated with my heart and gave me courage to keeping moving.

Where Is God in the Coronavirus Crisis?

Right where He’s always been

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How Do You Build Persistence When You’re Lost?

Three beliefs can help you find your way.

medium.com

In Suffering You Will Meet Yourself

“It’s at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys.”

medium.com

Childlike innocence

I came back inside ready to write. To share my heart. I got about halfway through my first draft when the theme song from the show Gossip Girl played on my phone as it rang.

My sister. She loved that show and had gotten me hooked on it. That was the ring tone I had chosen for her.

My husband and I live in a duplex next door to my sister and her girls, 5 and 6 years old. We’ve been sort of quarantined together, so we haven’t kept our distance from each other.

She asked if I could come outside to help her guide the girls as she timed them as they ran around the block for their gym class challenge.

That was the second reminder in my day that things were going to be okay again. We just needed to get through our grief one moment, one day at a time.

Things will be different now. Pop will be dearly missed, but he wouldn’t want us to get stuck in our grief. I watched my nieces. Their smiles and eagerness to run their races made me smile for the first time today.

Their giggles and hugs gave me the strength to keep moving.

To keep writing.

Even if my writing is different right now — changed due to how I feel. I know now that this change in me is perfectly fine. I am in the midst of loss and I need to write from the heart.

Stay authentic

Authenticity is so important when we write, especially if we want to write content that truly resonates with readers.

They are smart.

People will recognize when our true self is not shining through.

My takeaway

I want to grow from every experience I have in life. Death is part of life. There is no escaping it, no matter how hard we try. We all have our time to pass from this life to the next.

I don’t want to end on a morbid note. I want people to see that life is so precious. I’ve always known this fact. However, every time you suffer through a loss of a dear loved one, that truth breaks free again.

I hope you take away one important lesson from my journey through grief — live your life like every second counts, because it does. We don’t know how much time we have here on this earth, so make every moment count.