Just went to see The Time Traveler's Wife after releasing my daughter to college in Vancouver, Canada earlier this week. So here's the Transitioner and Grief Examiner in the throws of her own transition: the full effects of the Empty Nest Syndrome. (I'm going to have to practice what I preach!)
As it turns out, this was just the right time for me to see this film as it reminded me of the fleetingness of life. None of us know how long we have to live -- how long our "stay" together here on earth is. And, grief is tough. There's really no way around the pain of losing someone we have loved deeply, whether we've loved them for a year or 100 years!
However, as The Time Traveler's Wife vividly portrays,the reality is that our loved ones do not really leave us. They are simply transformed so that we no longer see them. But their essence remains; and they are actually in "another dimension" -- probably not even very far away -- although we are usually not privy to this other reality.
To anyone dealing with any kind of grief or transition right now, I would recommend going to see this new release. Or, you might like to read the book, by Audrey Niffenegger, which I hear is even better. You, too, might hear and see something that's helpful to you now. Or you just might like to cry your eyes out. Theaters are always great places to release your tears!
I've come to see that even after someone dies, we're experiencing a kind of "empty nest" for the time being, as we will be able to connect with our loved ones again in the not-so-distant future. And we never need to hang on to our griefs; in fact by hanging on to our griefs and "dragging out" the painful experience, we may sometimes end up making ourselves more miserable than we need to.
See the trailer for this film here:
To all of our transitions in these changing times... May they be as joyous and uplifting as possible, as we choose to live as much as we can in the Present Moment, Dancing heart~~~
If you're interested in Grief Pointers or Body-Mind-Spirit Tools for Healing, see Dancing Heart's website's Link Page.
And if you enjoyed this article, you may be interested in taking a look at:
Remembering Michael Jackson around the world
Linda Fleming's death: An experiment in conscious dying?
Wayman Tisdale died today... Or did he, really?!?
How shall we deal with grief in tumultuous times? (Part 1)
How shall we deal with grief in tumultuous times? (Part 2)
Koko's blues soul lives on -- in more ways than one
The often unspoken connection between diet and cancer/fungus
Dealing with cancer in the body-mind-spirit way: Re-emerging ancient tools for healing & relaxation
The magical essence of frankincense, and other essential oils (Part 1)
Comments
Great review of the film. A friend recommended the book some time ago, and I never took her up on it, but I may just do that now that you've made me see this connection to the empty nest. When my oldest left for college, I would have dreams that she died. I had cried mightily as we moved her into her dorm and drove home - as the chasm opened up between her dorm in Boston and our home near Philadelphia. To help, I concepted and eventually pub'd an ezine: Empty Nest. Check it out! (Google Empty Nest Magazine.) If you like it, subscribe or contribute. We'd be interested in reprinting your review.
Greetings to one and all in that mighty name of "Jesus". Each Christian of whom know him in the power of His resurrection...or, maybe I should say...those who are well acquainted with the fact, that He truly did come back from the dead...also appeared to his disciples.
Thomas was invited by Jesus to feel the nail prints within His hands. So, those who also have been convinced by only having His spirit to convince them, having never had the opportunity to feel the nail prints in his hands, as did Thomas: Jesus said blessed are those who have seen and then believed, but greater are the blessings that rest upon those who have never seen, but still believe.
I am a full time writer and an ordained minister. I have written three books so far. My first book: Reviving the dead church, by reminiscing the day of Pentecost. The second one is: Beyond the Golden Sunset and by the Crystal Sea. My third book: Off to visit the Prophet Elijah, on this one, the contract to publish has been complet
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