By Kevin J. Sabo
For the Advance
Grief is part of the human condition.
It doesn’t matter what people do; grief is something that everyone will have to face at some point in their lives. It could be the loss of a favorite pet, a family member, or the loss of employment.
It is with that thought in mind that the Paintearth Economic Partnership Society sponsored a grief and loss workshop, hosted by Jeremy Allen, owner and creator of DeathEd.
Allen, a funeral director in Provost, has over 15 years experience walking beside those are grieving.
“Grief, to me, is extension of relationships,” said Allen during his presentation.
“I’ve spent most of my adult life walking people through grief after loss…where loss lives, grief will follow.”
The first step in dealing with grief, according to Allen, is acknowledgement.
Instead of telling someone that it’s going to be okay, ask permission to be there for them.
“The reality is, it’s not always going to be okay,” said Allen.
“Show up, listen, and don’t fix. Get real and be honest.”
To keep oneself from getting overwhelmed, either dealing with grief yourself or being there for someone else, Allen has an “order of service,” that he suggests for people.
First, he recommends that we look after ourselves first, by eating and drinking to keep yourself regulated, whether hungry or thirsty or not, and do what you have to do to look after yourself and your immediate family.
The second priority he recommends is looking after your connections with your extended family.
Third, Allen recommends working on your work connections, and finally your friendships.
“I think the reality is, we are doing the best we can (in times of loss),” said Allen.
The session was delivered through a hybrid model. In-person tickets were available via Eventbrite for the Castor Community Hall.
The workshop was also streamed to in-person locations in Coronation and in Brownfield and was available to be viewed online. In total, 44 people attended in person, and over 150 people tuned in from home online.