Formative Reflective Journal
CO2234 Grief, Loss & Attachment:

Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak,
Whispers in the overwrought heart and bids it break - Macbeth,
 William Shakespeare.

As I reflect back on my Reflective Journal that has developed throughout the semester, what I did not expect was to be taken on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. A roller-coaster can be in its entirety a metaphor for surviving loss and grief, as one finds a way back to live life through the loss.

Each time one goes up or down in their grief, one grows. Sometimes the outcomes are not what is expected, and at times one is just grateful to get through the days end. An individual has their own way of riding a roller-coaster, it goes the same for each individual in their grief. 

None of us goes through loss and
grief in the same way, and no one has all the answers, we come to terms with our pain ourselves, because we are uniquely made.

 

                                                       One's healing journey through grief and Loss is as unique as God's creation in each of us individually.

As the semester went on and my journal progressed, I wondered how I could put my thoughts in a creative way that would express me.
I believe that God showed me that during my loss and grief I was like an egg. When I went through a loss I would crack and let my whole being pour out.
I needed to rebuild the shattered self that the loss had taken me too. Therefore, I have created this blog and a short movie to reflect my thoughts and feelings throughout some of my losses..

Short Movie: Shattered Egg.

The black & white pictures portray how I felt when I lost my baby girl, my dad and the church my husband and I were pastoring. 
The Egg symbolises how one is fully whole but loss & grief can break and shatter one's being.
Throughout the movie the scene changes in effect, these effects symbolise emotions that can be felt, and these emotions can interchange.
The clock symbolises time - over time one heals.

 

The picture in the background is faceless - in times of grief ones facial expressions are not what we are feeling, so I left the face without expression. Toward the end, the face reveals an eye and a slight smile.
At the beginning I was holding a black flower - By the end of the short movie I am holding 6 coloured flowers - As we allow ourselves to grieve, life and colour does came back into our lives. 

Over time the egg is back together, and the little pieces of egg shell that remain, are the pieces that were part of my life, they remain but are never forgotten.

Backing Track - Third Day - Love Song - I chose this track as it talks about how one will try and do anything for someone they love, but they are empty promises that cannot be achieved.
Jesus was and is my source and strength when I am going through any loss and grief. 
Just as the lyrics claim in the Love Song, there is nothing He will not do.


Although at times ones journey can be difficult, sad and even overwhelming.

One will need to learn to say goodbye, and keep memories alive and find renewal through loss.

Poem - Overtime the shattered pieces are no longer
            One becomes whole although a little piece longer remain
            It is a distance memory, not lost, but I am stronger
           But there to recall, forever remain. 
                                                                      S.Shore

Counselling Services: 
Examples only

                                                                  

Lifeline: 13 11 14

 

The Australian Centre for Grief and 

Bereavement is a Better Health Channel partner

 
The Australian Centre for Grief
and Bereavement is a HealthShare partner

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement
1800 642 066

 

  

References:

Attig, T 1991, The importance of conceiving of grief as an active process, Death Studies, vol.15, no,4, pp.385-394

Attig, T. (1996). How we grieve: relearning the world. New York: Oxford University
Press.

Bowlby, J. (1980), Attachment & Loss. Vol.III: New York: Loss, Basic.

Images - https://www.googleimages.com.au

Shakespeare, W. 1887,  Macbeth, Dover Publications, Inc.1992., Macmillan and Co., London

Third Day, 'Love Song', New Spring Publishing Inc. 

Worden, W. 2009, Grief counselling and grief therapy : a handbook for the mental health practitioner, 4th edn, Springer, New York