Goodbyes
You are invited to come N-E-A-R Grief and move toward healing.
Intention
Set an intention to say hello to one new action today. Maybe it’s walking outside for 5 minutes if you haven’t left the house. Or take a long bubble bath with lit candles. Or shampoo your hair and give yourself a long scalp massage.
NOTICE
Notice if you can think of one action today that you have not done in a while. If nothing is coming up right now, be patient and think about this as your day goes on. What would feel manageable?
EMOTIONS
How are you feeling right now? What would your song title be if you wrote a song about where you are today with your grief? Say it out loud without judgment. Accept this is where you are and that is okay.
ACTION
Listen to the song “Starts with Goodbye” by Carrie Underwood after you finish this article or podcast and pay attention to how it makes you feel. Maybe you can combine a walk outside with earbuds while you listen to this song. A trick I learned is that if you put on sunglasses, you can walk and cry in public. It actually can feel quite healing. However, crying openly is okay too. After my father died 5 years ago, I got very comfortable with just letting the tears fall without apologizing for them. I realize that many can be uncomfortable with another person crying. I learned to say, “I’m okay, the tears just fall. I don’t need anything right now. They will pass. Thanks for being patient with me.” And somehow that was something I felt like I did have control over in the moment.
REFLECT
Reflect on the words in Carrie Underwoods’ song about a breakup, and allow yourself to let it to apply to your circumstances.
Note: Background music on the audio is provided by: https://www.purple-planet.com. Images provided by Canva.
Starts With Goodbye
Carrie Underwood (lyrics)
I was sitting on my doorstep
I hung up the phone and it fell out of my hand
But I knew I had to do it
And he wouldn't understand
So hard to see myself without him
I felt a piece of my heart break
But when you're standing at a crossroad
There's a choice you gotta make
I guess it's gonna have to hurt
I guess I'm gonna have to cry
And let go of some things I've loved
To get to the other side
I guess it's gonna break me down
Like fallin' when you try to fly
Sad but sometimes
Moving on with the rest of your life
Starts with goodbye
I know there's a blue horizon
Somewhere up ahead, just waiting for me
Getting there means leaving things behind
Sometimes life's so bitter sweet
I guess it's gonna have to hurt
I guess I'm gonna have to cry
And let go of some things I've loved
To get to the other side
I guess it's gonna break me down
Like fallin' when you try to fly
It's sad but sometimes
Moving on with the rest of your life
Starts with goodbye
Time heals the wounds that you feel
Somehow, right now
I guess it's gonna have to hurt
I guess I'm gonna have to cry
And let go of some things I've loved
To get to the other side
I guess it's gonna break me down
Like fallin' when you try to fly
It's sad but sometimes
Moving on with the rest of your life
Starts with goodbye
I guess I'm gonna have to cry
And let go of some things I've loved
To get to the other side
Start to wave goodbye
Like fallin' when you try to fly
It's sad but sometimes
Moving on with the rest of your life
Starts with goodbye
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na, yeah
Songwriters: Angelo T. Petraglia, Hillary Lee Lindsey. For non-commercial use only.