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The Glory
of Action ... Working Through Your Grief
by Lynda Pogue
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This
article is intended to be useful and hopeful for those of you
who have suffered or are suffering grief.
As you’ve no doubt heard a bazillion times: the boomer
generation is the sandwich generation… sandwiched between
caring for our young and our elders. And given our age, we
boomers are losing our parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and
friends at quite a phenomenal rate. The sheer volume of
boomers equates with the sheer volume of collective grief
across the planet. And that’s a LOT
of sorrow.
Keeping in mind that grief has no age limit how are the
hundreds/thousands/millions of us dealing with this momentous
shared angst?
I recently read the famous Canadian painter Doris McCarthy’s
autobiography called
My Life. (Personally, I
didn’t think the book was great however SHE is great so it was
enlightening to read her own unique portrayal of her artistic
journey and her fascinating descriptions of early
Toronto. Does anyone out there remember
Sunnyside
Beach?) As in most things
in life, if you pay attention then there are lessons to be
learned … and for me, in reading this book, it was the in
prologue of McCarthy’s book.
The
following piece had deep meaning for Doris McCarthy as a
teenager and remains to be a part of her 99 years on this
earth. It resonated deeply with me and perhaps it will with
you too. She reminded me of “The glory of action.” and how,
when I’m stagnant, anything heavy in my heart (like the grief
of losing someone close) totally depletes my energy. But when
I get into action (painting / personal or professional writing
/ taking pictures / teaching / editing / researching /
laughing with a friend or a stranger / going to a movie /
cooking with my beautiful husband / playing with my cats
Frankie and Petie / going for a drive to someplace new/etc.)
then I know that my perspective on life will be much healthier
and richer. Active
Learning was a phrase I coined for educators in a book
that I wrote many years ago… now I know it applies to all of
us every day of our lives.
I now
launch into each day by reciting this ‘poem’ out loud because
I realize that this is a great kick-start to the day! Perhaps
you might take the time and patience within yourself to
memorize this not only because it’s a good thing to do for
your mind but also to give yourself hope and vision as you
begin each day.
Look to this day,
For it is the very life of life.
In its brief course lie all the
verities and realities of its existence.
The bliss of growth.
The glory of action.
The splendor of beauty.
For yesterday is but a dream, and
tomorrow only a vision.
But today well lived makes every
yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look therefore well to this day.
Such is the salutation of the dawn.
Kalidasa/Sanskrit
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