Grief can feel like swimming in uncertain ocean waters. Just like waves, feelings can ebb and flow; sometimes they are small ripples we can easily surf over and other times they are towering waves that are difficult to navigate. Grief is a personal experience that can look different for each family member. We can feel multiple feelings at one time. It is normal to feel a mix of sadness, anger, worry, happiness, loneliness, love, and other feelings simultaneously.
The “One Wave at a Time” activity is a time to reflect on the different grief feelings and the intensity of these feelings. Support group members are asked to follow along reading the book, One Wave a Time, by Holly Thompson, which describes grief and healing after the death of a parent. Group members are then asked to identify small, medium, and large waves of grief they experience and identify helpful ways they can “ride these waves out.” For example, a large wave of grief is feeling sadness during birthdays because their loved one is no longer present, and a way to ride out that wave is to bake that person’s cake flavor and enjoy it with loved ones.
Group members are then invited to share with one another to connect, and both offer and receive support, as they navigate the waves of grief.
