What do we not talk about?
This week, we’re asking, “What do we not talk about?”
- Grief?
- Loss?
- Loneliness?
How well do we know our fellow Team Members? How well do we know our friends? Do we know their life story? Do we know their heartbreak? Do we need to know it? Can we be understanding without knowing the details of a person’s circumstances? Do we give the benefit of the doubt, even when we are tested with poor behavior?
What are we thinking about this week?
The Manchester United footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, and his partner Georgina Rodriguez, recently announced the death of their baby boy. The announcement was met with widespread sympathy and support. During a match against Liverpool, in which he was due to play, the Liverpool fans abandoned old rivalries, to emotionally serenade the footballing legend by singing, “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
Is being in the public eye helpful in these situations? Or would we want privacy? Do our own tragedies get a platform? Or do our tragedies go unnoticed? Do our silent traumas go unspoken? Or do we talk about them? Do we walk alone? Or do we ask for help?
Do we see tragedy in the lives of those around us? Do we make it safe for those around us to talk? Do we show we care? Do we ask the question? Do we call for help?
We invite you to tell your story. How did you manage your loss, your grief, and your loneliness? How did it impact your mental wellbeing? Did you have a supportive working environment? Did you have a supportive social environment?
What are we reading this week?
Do we find it easy to talk to someone who has lost someone they love? Has someone in our workplace, our neighborhood, or our social group lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal tragedy? Do we talk about it?
Experiencing pregnancy or infant loss is devastating. The following is a piece which offers guidance on how to help a loved one who is grieving the loss of a baby (“Health Matters, Stories of Science, Care & Wellness”)
https://healthmatters.nyp.org/tips-to-support-someone-after-the-loss-of-a-baby/ (8-minute read)
I Am Here invites you to share your tips, your thoughts, and your reflections on the loss of a child or loved one. As an employer, do you see when an employee might be struggling after loss? As a Team Member, do you tell your Team Leader when you are facing challenges caused by grief?
Who are we quoting this week?
“Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and oftentimes we call a man cold, when he is only sad.”
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Does this speak to you? Does it have meaning for you? Have you been misunderstood? Or have you misunderstood someone else? Chat to us here at I Am Here. DM us. Send us a tweet. Email us.
