By BOB FUSELIER 
Los Alamos 

We’ve all faced losses, whether the loss be a loved one, a career, a pet, a relationship, or way of life. As we age, we also face the loss of our health, abilities, and freedom to be independent. Eventually, we must all come to terms with the greatest loss we will ever face, our own death.

Unfortunately, we’re not always allowed to grieve our losses. The sense of separation, confusion, regret, guilt, constant sadness, and anger can be signs of ungrieved losses. We can’t avoid loss, but we can make sure we allow ourselves to go through the healing process of loss, what we know as grief.

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross developed her famous stages of grief as she worked with patients who were nearing the end of their lives. She recognized that most of her patients experienced five different stages. Later, her five stages of grief were found to be experienced by people experiencing other major losses of life. Understanding what is happening during grief and patiently allowing ourselves the time to experience what’s happening enables us to come to terms with the new reality that the loss has created. The process we call grief is how we heal from loss and also come to peace as we near the end of our lives.

Starting on Feb. 10, the Betty Ehart Senior Center will be hosting a weekly grief support group for seniors. The grief group will be led by Bob Fuselier and Ken Hendricks, both facilitators trained through the Golden Willow Retreat Center.

During the meetings, those attending will learn how the human mind deals with loss, what the grieving process entails, and how grief allows us to live and grow through the pain of our losses. Included during the meetings will be time to share one’s experiences and difficulties of grief with those who are going through similar experiences. Grief support groups are safe places where the participants support and help each other through this difficult, but natural, journey in life.

To find out more, please attend the meet and greet and presentation meeting that will take place at 10 a.m. Feb. 3 in the Day Out room of the Betty Ehart Senior Center. The support group meetings will be held at the same location. The meetings will be held weekly in six-week cycles followed by a two-week break.