I wrote this to myself then thought it showed the feelings of most bereaved people, hope you do not mind if I share it

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Why do I grieve, not for the past, because that was already past

I grieve for what we may have had together in the future

I grieve with racking sobs and immeasurable pain for the loss of him

I grieve because I know that this is not for today for it will last

beyond tomorrow, next week, next month and next year.

The overwhelming need to be with him, if only for a brief minute

frightens me, yet comforts me through my tears, because it means

That I have experienced the depth of love I did not believe existed

And for that I should remember to be grateful, but it still seems

As though there is no tomorrow for me any more, just today

To push myself through, for the sake of others and in memory of him

Not to sound self-pitying or boring others with my pain, so I paint on my face

And I face the world, but inside I feel nothing but emptiness and grief,

and with that word again, I grieve, and I scream to the sky, I want him back

The world is silent, the world we knew is no more, and I feel cast away

on a sea of loneliness, where there is no laughter, nor even fights, just silence

The silence made of grieving and loss. 

Whilst others quite rightly gather back their lives and hold their loved ones even closer 

I want him home, I want him back, I want to be with him

But in his name and for his memory’s sake I must go on, into a future alone

No one can help me, not family nor friends, for this is one battle I must face

To waken each day, look at the same spot on the ceiling and get on with trying to live

Without him.

  • Diamond girl - I am really struggling since I lost my beloved husband in January and your words describe exactly my feelings but unfortunately I know I must continue for my family and friends the grief has resurchged and overwhelming me. How do you carry on when you’ve lost the love of your life????

  • Diamond Girl - it was January I lost my husband and I have not been on this site since April but I am struggling and your beautiful words echo my own thoughts and grief exactly.  I don’t know how you are supposed to carry on when you’ve lost the love of your life.  When do the tears stop and the longing to see them again...thank you for posting this.  It’s good to know there’s someone out there who shared the same love...

  • Dear GrannySmith 123, I see you have put 2 messages up here, each as heartbreaking as the other.
    In the scale of things January was no time ago at all, then we had to endure lockdown, which only enhances our loss not helps it. 
    I am not sure how I can help as it is now 7.5 years ago since my husband died, and since then I have made huge leaps from the message I wrote originally, all that time ago in the very dark days.
    I was talking to a friend about this subject just last week, and I told her that if you asked me how I coped or what I did in the first raw months afterwards, I could not tell you.  I went through in a fog, automatic pilot and everything is a blur.
    I culled my friends' list and stopped seeing any who made me feel less than normal, or made me think I had to apologise for my feelings of loss even those who made me feel suffocated with their presence. That made me feel so much better mentally, although it might be interpreted as unkind, but I needed it for myself and my sanity.

    I still talk to my husband and discuss things with him, argue with him, shout at him, and I feel him around me a lot of the time as well.  I felt my husband was directly in front of me, obscuring my view of the future but as the years have passed, I now feel he is beside me, side by side, giving me the strength to go forward, without guilt or overwhelming sadness.

    You ask how do you carry on....my own experience was that I had to, for him, for our children and ultimately for myself.  That deep seated grief, the one which almost chokes you, the crying and screaming with pain, did get better and easier to handle.  It didn't mean I loved him any less, just that I was going forward and not living in the past, and I owed him that much.
    Everyone is different, our mourning is different, the outcome is different, but one thing we all have in common on this site is that we have suffered the ultimate loss of a partner.

    My advice is always, be kind to yourself, be patient with yourself and follow your own time, don't feel pressurised to 'get over it'...everything at your pace.  I wish you well GrannySmith, it is early days for you, please take care of yourself and remember you are never alone completely.

    Fight for the rarer cancers, go to www.sarcoma.org.uk to make a difference

  • Sorry for delay in responding Diamondsgirl.  I was with my family sharing my twin grandchildren’s birthday and had to suppress my sadness that their amazing grandad was not with us - guilty that I am still able to do the things he loved.  As before your words ring so true, insofar as friends - I struggle with those who made no contact before he died.  The pandemic has helped - I’ve not needed to see so many of those people, but hindered as not been able to get together with other more genuine friends.  

    However bleak the future is to me, I know for a fact he would want me to just live - enjoying our special, precious family, our hobby that we shared and loved, so I will Diamondsgirl. - thank you.

  • Hello DiamondGirl- thank you for your statement on culling friends 

    • I culled my friends' list and stopped seeing any who made me feel less than normal, or made me think I had to apologise for my feelings of loss even those who made me feel suffocated with their presence. That made me feel so much better mentally, although it might be interpreted as unkind, but I needed it for myself and my sanity

    I really helped as I have been doing this but also feeling uncomfortable. Especially those who have suffocated or who are only focused on themselves.

    My partner died Feb 2020 and there was a good few months of nursing at home and instablilty - I realise now I was a sitting duck for people who wanted to close in an help or ask lots of questions or ring for updates. WHilst I really appreciated it, it was also suffocating and I am having to ask for some space from a couple of friends. It almost felt like they were feeding off my tricky situation.  It is hard for friends to get it right, but living through the last year has given me a different view of things, including some friendships. 

  • Theflood read this - it's amazing Heart eyes

    Tomorrow is another day
  • Heart

    Tomorrow is another day
  • Hi BootsyD - did you mean The Flood by Take That?  Just a bit unsure as nothing actually posted.

  • Hi GrannySmith123 lol!! There's a new member called theflood who recently joined. I think everyone should read this poem xx hope you're well x

    Tomorrow is another day
  • Oops sorry.  Yes, everyone should read this and her subsequent message about friends.  
    Had really bad spell but picked myself up again - another lockdown is not going to be good, especially with his birthday during it...

    Take care and keep safe.