Bereavement/Grief Paper This workshop was absolutely mind-blowing and eye-opening. I had no idea that death can cause so many issues and that there's no right or wrong way to grieve. I was very shocked to hear that the loss of a loved one can have a lifelong impact on the living. I thought by now the impacts of death would be controlled; however I wasnt aware of how important the grieving and bereavement process truly is. This workshop has made me aware to the issues that plague my generation and understand how to be a part of the solution rather than the problem. The workshop did a spectacular job of opening doors for discussion and understanding regarding the impact of death and the loss of loved ones. The workshop was able to provide resources to become an advocate of bereavement awareness. There were numerous discussions and main points throughout the workshop. The one that really made an impact on me was when we watched the clip from the movie "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." It was very moving to see how determined that young boy was to find what his father's key opened. throughout the whole workshop, I couldn't help but to think of when my grandma died. She passed away in 2004 from breast cancer.
I remember a moment when I was in the hospital visiting my grandmother after she had her breast surgically removed. I was terrified to see my grandma lying on the hospital bed. I did not want to cry because my dad told me I had to be strong for my mom, but when I walked into the room and saw her, the tears came out uncontrollably. I have never felt this way before, this sadness was unreal. I felt like I was in a movie and that when Id wake up the next day, it would all be back to normal again. But this was no movie, it was all a reality. I remember the last words I whispered to her, I will make you proud whether you are still here with us or in heaven watching down. This was my first loss in the family that I had to encounter and it was terrible.