A Mourner’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities
© 2015 Sheridan Hill
I have the right to be sad, and to be angry (including at the Divine), and the responsibility to not hurt myself or others.
I have the right to be in shock, fear, denial, and the responsibility to move through it organically, in my own time.
I have the right to weep, and the responsibility to acknowledge my tears.
I have the right to express my grief, and the responsibility to find those who can allow me to express it.
I have the right to protest the injustice of my loss, and the responsibility to be a loving parent towards my body, mind, and soul.
I have the right to mourn all of my losses, regardless of how supposedly small, how global, how old, how invisible, or how un-nameable, and I have the responsibility to articulate my grief.
I have the right to be free of my pain, and the responsibility to mourn for as long as it takes.
I have the right to move in and out of mourning over days, months, and years, and I have the responsibility to educate others about my grief process.
I have the right to heal, and the responsibility to ask for what I need to transform my suffering.
I have the right to laugh, to be joyful, to fall in love with life again, and the responsibility to renew my capacity for love.
© 2015 Sheridan Hill
I have the right to be sad, and to be angry (including at the Divine), and the responsibility to not hurt myself or others.
I have the right to be in shock, fear, denial, and the responsibility to move through it organically, in my own time.
I have the right to weep, and the responsibility to acknowledge my tears.
I have the right to express my grief, and the responsibility to find those who can allow me to express it.
I have the right to protest the injustice of my loss, and the responsibility to be a loving parent towards my body, mind, and soul.
I have the right to mourn all of my losses, regardless of how supposedly small, how global, how old, how invisible, or how un-nameable, and I have the responsibility to articulate my grief.
I have the right to be free of my pain, and the responsibility to mourn for as long as it takes.
I have the right to move in and out of mourning over days, months, and years, and I have the responsibility to educate others about my grief process.
I have the right to heal, and the responsibility to ask for what I need to transform my suffering.
I have the right to laugh, to be joyful, to fall in love with life again, and the responsibility to renew my capacity for love.
