Baby Boomers Face Grief (eBook)

Ninety million baby boomers will, in the next 20 years, face the loss of oneor both parents. This book discusses society's lack of acceptance ofgrief in general and the way past generations have taught us to dealwith this life event. "e;Time will heal."e;, "e;They had a good life"e; are someexamples of empty phrases so often used when dealing with loss. Thereader is taken on a journey in this book by providing support andunderstanding of the grieving process. In this writer's opinion thisgeneration, known as the baby boomers, through the sheer force of theirnumbers, has the ability to make positive changes in the way this andsucceeding generations handle grief. The grieving process is explained; how it differs for all of us; thatthere is no "e;right"e; way to grieve and that the pain of grieving cannotbe avoided. Suggestions are offered for managing grief. Ceremonies andrituals surround death and grieving is discussed and suggestions abouthow to structure a meaningful ceremony to honour loved ones are given. The book makes it clear that change can occur in our society, with thisgeneration, that will allow people to manage grief in a constructiveway; that sharing experience can allow others to be more prepared andmore open in dealing with this life altering experience and that peoplecan find comfort in knowing that others have had similar experiences. This book allows a glimpse into what we will all face and somestrategies to cope with our loss, in an easy to read, personal narrativeformat. FORWARD BY Dennis Walker MSWIndividuals facing bereavement differ in many significant ways. However, they often have in common the experience of isolation and of being unable to measure the normalcy of their loss. As a counselor it is important to be able to recommend a book that deals with the process of grief as a personal experience and which offers non-judgmental ways of measuring its impact on us. Framed in the context of the boomer generation Jane starts with her own open discussion of the death of her mother, but extends her discussion to all aspects of loss. She describes how death affects the individual, his or her relationships, as well as how societal attitudes can worsen the impact of loss on us all. She gives specific ideas about the preparation before the impact of loss and the suggestions for constructively dealing with the aftermath of death. From the outset, she notes that many of us find unexpected change to be difficult. Her book provides a careful antidote to the tendencies in our culture to avoid facing grief and to the quick fixing of personal loss. Throughout, the theme is that of not judging ones reactions; of not trying to do grief according to the book; to stay open to the possibility that grief can eventually create change. Her book is open, practical and ultimately conveys a strong and positive message to anyone struggling with loss. In the past I have feared recommending books about loss, as they can in spite of their intent, leave people feeling worse. This book will leave people feeling confirmed in their experience and hopeful for their future. Dennis WalkerSeptember 2005