Synopsis "The Path of Grief: & the Imagined Future"
How to Say Good-Bye to a Loved One Who is DyingA father is dying of cancer. An adult daughter is searching for her identity. The reader learns new ways to live that are rich and meaningful. That grief is part of life is one of the conclusions of this book, which asks lots of questions. The Path of Grief is a memoir of the death and dying of the author's father, which recounts their relationship in soulful and sometimes humorous ways. She encourages the reader to do the same with their own experience. The journey is shared between the author and reader. Grief isn't something to get over. Rather, grief becomes part of our Imagined Future. She explores the life journey of her father, and the shared borders with her own life. The impact of grief changes the daily structure of our life, and we need to talk about how we miss the loved one who has passed on. Grief and healing are treated in very human ways. Looking back at a life, asking deep questions, and exploring the way memories help us grieve and heal, we learn what the dead can teach us about life. Death can be life altering, and a time for us to search for our own identity. Using snippets of poetry throughout, the reader is taken through the grieving process.For instance, an early chapter is titled: "Ranting & Raving."Towards the middle, a chapter is titled: "On Grief & Missing Pieces."Another is named: "Betwixt & Between."Towards the end, a chapter is called: "Fare Forward, Voyager."It's a life journey.The basic steps of the Path of Grief are: Revel in your Stream of Memories & share them.CryFollow Rituals & CustomsConsciously Initiate TraditionsIdentify Your FeelingsChoose Companions for Your PathRecognize or Establish a 'Home Base'Allow for PossibilityLearn & Begin to HopeBe Open to Active ExperienceImagine the FutureIncluded in the book (in the back) are 23 Grief Exercises that match the chapters. They include Meditation Exercises, a Grounding Worksheet, Writing a Letter, Memories, Setting & Achieving Goals, Defining a Theme, and much more.
