Leaning on compassion and understanding right now and for years to come

by | Oct 13, 2022 | Grief, Growth, and Self-Care, How We Help

Next year marks the 20th anniversary of Threads of Life. That’s 20 years of continued support for families affected by a workplace tragedy. Over the years we have met with many families and will continue to grow and develop opportunities where families can find comfort and heal. 

There isn’t a typical Threads of Life family. We come from across provinces and territories, work sectors and backgrounds. It sounds strange to be connected to others through a work-related tragedy doesn’t it?  But here we are together. Understanding that there are many challenges that families face, it is very important to us that every person who finds our community of support is offered help to deal with the impact of loss. Thankfully we have many partners and friends who want to ensure there is a place for families to connect and find support when a workplace tragedy happens.   

Finding ways to cope and identifying with others who have been through a similar experience can significantly help those who are feeling alone move with their grief and loss. We have to find a way to move forward with what’s happened, but that doesn’t mean we forget, “move on” or “get over it.” It’s always good to remind ourselves of what helps:

Find a good listener. Talk to someone who will listen – really listen, whether it is a trusted friend, family member, counsellor, doctor, or Threads of Life volunteer family guide.  Through talking, we are able to “let go” of — or process — some of the emotions that are not comfortable to express elsewhere. No one else will grieve in exactly the same way you do, but you may find some relief in being really listened to. It can help to break the internal tension and make you feel less overwhelmed.  

Be a grief gumshoe. Explore and find resources that you can identify with or find useful, and that you can learn from. Ask yourself: what do I need right now? How did others get through this? What’s more, technology has opened the door to allow us instant access to many online resources such as blogs, self-help books, websites, and focused articles to support someone who is grieving. There are some amazing perspectives and ways people share their own experiences in a helpful way. Find what resonates with you and leave the rest.

Keep company with others. We can’t stress this enough: do not allow yourself to become isolated. We’re social creatures, and grief only makes social supports even more important. Many families who meet through Threads of life become friends. Often it’s an instant and ongoing connection that draws people together. Compassion, understanding, empathy – reactions from others that can be helpful when you are feeling isolated. 

Whatever you do to support your journey, Threads of Life is an additional support network for you to be part of: whenever you need it, and for as long as you need it.

If you’d like to connect with a trained peer support volunteer, we offer a one-on-one match with a volunteer family guide. This is an opportunity to share your challenges with someone who understands the path you are on. If you’d like to be connected, contact Karen at [email protected] or 1-888-567-9490.

If you’re looking for other opportunities to connect, here are a few others:

Karen Lapierre Pitts
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