In Jewish traditions, shnat ha-evel (the first year after a parent's death) is a special time of mourning. The children of the person who died are invited to be deeply and purposefully in their grief well after others have returned to the busy flow of daily living. When held in this way as an invitation, shnat ha-evel can be de-shaming for a range of behaviors and processes that those particularly affected by a loss may be doing or experiencing beyond what others less or differently affected are doing or experiencing in the wake of the same loss. Today, we can perhaps expand this tradition to be more inclusive. We can welcome anyone who feels a particularly deep bond with someone who died to take a shnat ha-evel to fully feel the truth and grief of the end of that living bond. What helps you grieve for as long as you need to after someone, anyone, has died?
[image description: Two hearts stand facing each other. The heart on the left uses crutches and is wearing a brace on its right leg. The heart on the right has one wild braid of hair. Both hearts are gently crying. There is a small bright red heart floating between them. Text reads: "אהבה" (love) "תמיד" (always)]
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#MindfulHearts
RETROSPECTIVE
~ 7/10 ~
on this day
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
~ celebrating five years of daily cartoons ~
RETROSPECTIVE
~ 7/10 ~
on this day
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
~ celebrating five years of daily cartoons ~
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