Changing Seasons

The End of Summer and the Weight of Transitions

Labor Day weekend marked the official end of summer. For many survivors, this summer flew by as they were lost in their grief and did not take the time to get outside and do the traditional summer events. The long weekend was also a strange weekend for many people, having the extra day and the official end of summer events are also difficult reminders that our loved ones are not with us. Most survivors are not looking to go to Labor day barbecues and would prefer to stay inside and not have to face their grief in front of their families and friends. It is so easy to feel alone on big weekends without your loved one.

When Darkness Falls Earlier Each Day

All transitions are difficult. It can be the end of the summer or the entering the next phase of your life after a suicide. The sun will start to set before 7:00PM next week and the days continue to get 2 1/2 minutes shorter each day. Losing a loved one can feel similar. Your days are shorter, and it feels like you are lost in the darkness. One of the challenging parts of this time of year is that it is easier to hide indoors and not head out to deal with your grief and loss.

Putting Energy Into Your Healing

One key to healing is putting energy into your transition. It requires you to work on your grief and start to acknowledge that your life is going to be different. Storing up the energy for the long winter in front of you is important. Now is the time to start to make plans for how you will deal with the fall and winter. The holidays are just around the corner and you want to be in control of how you cope and deal with them.

Making Plans for the Fall and Winter Ahead

You can get through the fall and winter and be much stronger than you imagine. Work on your grief with a counselor, talk about your loss with a sympathetic person, find someone to begin to do the small steps with you, join our Facebook group or just go out and get a chocolate donut. Make it your new year’s resolution to feel better next spring and summer. You probably don’t want to feel like you’re struggling next summer too.

Hope in the Cycle of Seasons

Just remember that the trees drop their leaves each fall so that they can grow new leaves in the spring. There is hope, there is a new life and there is healing, you just have to work at it.

Other Posts You May Also Find Helpful:

• The Fall Transition – Expands on the theme of autumn as a time to let go, using the metaphor of falling leaves to explore how we can release pain while preparing for growth.
• Finding Your Way Through the Holidays: A Guide for Survivors of Suicide Loss – Provides detailed guidance for navigating the upcoming holiday season that looms as fall begins, helping you prepare and plan ahead.
• Navigating Halloween After Suicide Loss – Addresses one of the first challenging holidays of the fall season, offering strategies for coping with this difficult time.
• What Does Healing Look Like? – Explores what it means to work on your grief and move forward, just as this post encourages you to put energy into your transition and healing journey.