“The idea behind a kaleidoscope is that it is a structure that’s filled with broken bits and pieces, and somehow if you look through them, you still see something beautiful. And I feel like we are all that way a little bit.” – Sara Bareilles
I also see kaleidoscope images as “moving mosaics.” Mosaics are made by assembling small pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic to create something new. There’s beauty in this brokenness, as pieces come together, creating new stories.
When you look in a kaleidoscope, you see a collective image of broken pieces/fragments of glass. Turn it a bit to either the right or the left and you get a totally different and constantly changing image – especially when held up to a light.
And so it is with grief. It is unique with each turn.
In talking about a kaleidoscope of grief; I see the broken pieces representing our lives after a death has happened.
We tend to feel broken, with rough edges, wondering if we will ever be “whole” again. These pieces of grief can represent various emotional, mental, behavioral, spiritual and physical components that affect us.
In addition, they can represent thoughts and memories of our loved ones as well as reminders of secondary losses (such as loss of the familiar, loss of support systems, loss of confidence and loss of dreams for the future to name a few).
And even though we will not be the same “whole” we were before the death of our loved one; we are beautifully broken as we continue to change and strive to create new meanings/connections with our loved ones along our grief journey’s path.
Some things to keep in mind that we, as grievers need:
- Validation of feelings
- Help with overwhelming feelings
- People to “hold space” with us, to catch our stories
- Opportunities to remember our loved ones
- Confirmation we are not alone
This being said; please know that you are not alone on your grief journey. We come together to share our kaleidoscopes and create healing mosaics.
LOVE LIVES ON!
HUGS, Susan
