May you find the courage to take that first tentative but extraordinary step. Helping Others During Bereavement originally posted in our “Journey Bereavement Newsletter” June 2022 One of the issues with bereaved people is often “What do I do now?” The loss of close family members or even close friends can send us into a tailspin of confusion about how to go forward from here and what to do when we feel we have no more tears left to cry. Recognizing the fragile nature of life can hurt tremendously, and it can sometimes make us reevaluate our priorities. Undoubtedly, the inward work of bereavement must be completed in order to effectively process a significant loss. A healthy process may incorporate some community mourning (funerals and memorial services are important for sharing our grief communally). Still, much of the grief work is done internally and can sometimes feel very isolating. Feeling mired in our personal pain is natural after a significant loss, but getting stuck there for too long can become a problem that may only make us lonelier and more depressed in the long run.  This is why bereaved people can benefit from reaching out to help others even at times when…