Beyond Grief
By Catherine C. Petersen
You're never really prepared for the loss of a loved one, whether it's quite sudden or the inevitable result of a long illness. Estate planning programs are invaluable in determining account distributions, but the task of distributing or disposing of personal property, and preparing a house to sell, can be overwhelming. Many people have lived in the same house for 20 or 30 years, and have accumulated many things. Just look around your own house and you'll probably agree there isn't much room for more.
One woman shared this story with me. After their mother passed away, the woman and her brother and sister would go to mom's house intending to select items they wished to keep. They'd find an item that was a gift to mom, and they would all begin to cry as they spoke of the memories. Then they would go out to dinner. This is the way they dealt with their grief. After a year of this, they sought organizational help and direction.
It is important to recognize grief when it arrives. It can be very difficult to work through it on your own, since its effects can be subtle. Grief is numbing. We tend to lose focus on the things that should be done. It is very important to seek help, whether it is counseling, legal or professional assistance. We need to grieve because it's important to do so. Spend time with those who care about you. Talk with those whose judgment you trust. Let Catherine C. Petersen & Associates, Inc. work for you.
One woman shared this story with me. After their mother passed away, the woman and her brother and sister would go to mom's house intending to select items they wished to keep. They'd find an item that was a gift to mom, and they would all begin to cry as they spoke of the memories. Then they would go out to dinner. This is the way they dealt with their grief. After a year of this, they sought organizational help and direction.
It is important to recognize grief when it arrives. It can be very difficult to work through it on your own, since its effects can be subtle. Grief is numbing. We tend to lose focus on the things that should be done. It is very important to seek help, whether it is counseling, legal or professional assistance. We need to grieve because it's important to do so. Spend time with those who care about you. Talk with those whose judgment you trust. Let Catherine C. Petersen & Associates, Inc. work for you.