We never know when the first significant loss in our life will be, nor do we know how we will react or what the emotions will be. When I became suddenly and unexpectedly single at age 30, I had no emotional vocabulary to put into words what I was feeling. I knew I had to be strong for my two preschool-aged children. I was busy looking for a new job, seeking education to help me grow professionally and personally, reading self-help books one minute and story books to my children the next. To say I was busy was an understatement.
My feelings were ignored and unidentified and life was a giant "To Do" list. Then I attended a workshop about transitions, and in one simple phrase, I felt validated and normal. The relief was astonishing. If you are grieving any loss, you know that you begin to question your own sanity, as so many emotions swirl inside you like a vicious tornado. What was the validating phrase?