I just found this inspiring article on another grief board and wanted to share it with all of you. What really grabbed my attention first was this excerpt, which might just be one of the most effective rejoinders to those who would try to disenfranchise the loss of an animal companion:
"Scientists have recently discovered that no matter what the cause, all forms of grief create physical pain and chemical reactions in our body. In other words, grief in any form takes a measurable toll on us physically, one that can actually be quantified and seen in laboratories. The second interesting thing about these studies is that grief over the loss of loved one, whether human or animal, both measured the same identical effects in the body. So whether we are grieving a spouse, or a beloved animal companion the effects in our bodies are equal. That is an important finding because it offers us an opportunity to have more compassion for ALL those who grieve, not just those we can relate to, or those losses we deem 'worthy.' "
This interview, while it may not suit those who aren't as open to certain concepts, contains some valuable insights as well as the chance of offering some comfort and guidance for our passage through grief. If you can make your way through the entire thing, but aren't comfortable with some of these ideas, you can still practice that wise saying, "Take what you like and leave the rest." There are some real gems and other helpful links in here.......Read on.......