I am grieving.

I had huge plans for 2020, it was going to be my most amazing year yet as a photographer and for my family - but the Corona Virus has disrupted our lives, our plans, and our dreams. I am sure that I am not the only one. I am grieving many losses that come with it as well as the social distancing required to care for each other.

As a raging extrovert - being around people is one of my basic food groups for healthy living.

It is only this week that I am realizing that all the conflicted, anxious, and crazy feelings I have been experiencing are all connected to grief.

Recognizing Grief:

The Kubler-Ross stages of grief have been around since the late 60’s and are a classic way of understanding the mechanics of grief. They are not linear, can come repeatedly and in any order, and will look different for everyone.

Denial: We are not yet ready to face the shock of the change or loss and try to pretend it isn’t real or rationalize it away.
Anger: The pain of our loss comes into focus as anger and will often find many unrelated targets.
Bargaining: We try to negotiate to change the outcome - engaging “if only” or “what if” thinking.
Depression: We experience emptiness as the space that used to hold our cherished plans and dreams is filled with loss and silence instead.
Acceptance: We are ready to face the new reality on the other side of our loss. We are not “OK” but are learning to live and feel again. We accept the change as the new normal.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve. These aspects of grief are not linear - they all come and go in waves. For me, I experience different waves of grief each time new information comes out and more disruption occurs - especially as we navigate suddenly homeschooling our 3 amazing kids, fear and social distancing, the potential of lost income, the concern for our loved ones, and many other fears, rational and otherwise.

If you are experiencing some of these things, you are not alone!

If you feel isolated, crazy, or just overwhelmed and need to talk with someone reach out to me - we can start with an email or social media message - but maybe we can set up a quick Skype or Facetime call sometime soon too!

*Over on both my Instagram accounts, I have also been posting some short 1-3 minute nature IGTV videos that make a great backdrop for a moment of mindfulness if you are looking to calm your anxious thoughts - I linked both accounts below.

Cheers, and stay safe!

Brandon

Reach Out Now!