Awareness Magazine is a Holistic Living Magazine in Southern California, and Daddy happened to find an article, in the May/June issue, that I think will be of interest to Cats, and their Humans.
Marian Silverman, a School Psychologist, loves Cats, and when her beloved Charlie Boy went to Rainbow Bridge she was distraught, and needed time to recover.
She was not allowed to take a day off because "Bereavement Days" were for members of the family, and a pet didn't qualify.
She realized there was a need to change social attitudes toward pet loss, and set out to fill it.
She began to offer bereavement counseling in her private practice.
Many Humans are looked at funny when they mourn the loss of their long time best buddies, and companions, of the Animal Kingdom, and they need to know that their feelings are valid, true, important, and NORMAL.
Her article, in Awareness, discusses some strategies, to help Humans cope with pet loss, under 10 headings:
1. Permission to grieve.
2. Memorialize.
3. Sacred Space.
4. Cry.
5. Nurture.
6. Exercise and Rest.
7. Avoid Toxins.
8. Write.
9. Pet Loss Groups and Books.
10. Guilt.
You, or your Human, can access the article on Page 26 (Use the Zoom for easier reading!) of the Online FlipPage version of the May/June Edition of the Magazine, and you can print, e-mail, or download a PDF.
Saying Good-Bye...A Death in the Family.
Share this with anyone you know, especially if you know they may need this information someday.
***UPDATE - NOON 5/6***
Thanks for posting this, Nikita.
Your Dad is very observant as this article will assist other humans who have lost a precious fur baby and need to grieve.
Relationships with beloved pets are so special that losing them causes so much pain.
Giving ourselves permission to be compassionate with ourselves and knowing grief for pets is okay is part of the healing.
Not enuf is said on this subject so it's great that you posted this, and put in your own purrsonal endorsement.
Love, Kathy De Santis
Editor - Awareness MagazineOwner and Servant
Camp Happy Cat
***END UPDATE***
***UPDATE 2 - 5/9***
Thanks Nikita for posting my article "Saying Goodbye" in your blog.
We humans need all the help we can get from you four footed ones.
That's why we keep you around. You help us face the challenges of life.
And when the inevitable time comes to say goodbye to you, we must do it with gratitude, respect and grace....and no apologies for loving you deeply.
Marian Silverman
Your readers can contact me at: Hollyni (at) sbcglobal.net
***END UPDATE***
Grieving is a natural process in life and humans do need to allow themselves to go through it when they lose a pet.
It is good of you to bring it to your readers' attention.
Posted by: jansfunnyfarm | May 07, 2010 at 10:04 AM
So true.
Thanks for sharing.
We hope Nikita will join Jules and Vincent for Weekend Cat Blogging this weekend.
It's Mother's Day but Papas can join along too.
Posted by: Judi | May 07, 2010 at 11:37 AM