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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | FEBRUARY 2025 49 Life After Loss The month of February is the first significant step into the New Year. Thanksgiving, Christmas and Channukkah are a thing of the past. The month, however, often finds the griever worn out and emotionally tired. The relentless march of events, get-togethers and expectations, for many, have taken their toll. In addition, facing the "day after day" of another year alone is a gnawing reality. It eats like a cancer. So with the appearance of red hearts and candy dedicated to "romantic love," the emotional will of the griever, already scarred and weak from the festivities of the past, is woefully unprepared. The advertisements of the media and aisle of cards and gifts can seem cruel and heartless. Despite the possible difficulties and sharp edges you may experience in your grieving there are things an individual can do to prepare for Valentine's Day. 1. Remind yourself that you can and will get through the emotions of the day. Avoiding reality will only increase emotional pain. Walls can protect us for a time but also isolate us from the assistance that others can bring. 2. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come your way. Yes, it can be scary. But granting yourself the permission to experience your feelings is the gateway to healing. Not forgetting the past but intentionally embracing what is. Our heart only really accepts what we allow it to experience. 3. Accept the truth of your feelings and celebrate the day in a special way that will bring you meaning. Some possible new ways to celebrate include lighting a candle, saying your loved one's name, donating to a special charity in their memory. Even some gentle "self-care" moments will create soft landings for ongoing healing. The late Vivian Greene wrote these inspiring words, "Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. Its about learning how to dance in the rain." Excerpted from https:// w w w.good reads.com /aut hor/ quotes/769264.Vivian_Greene# The Life After Loss Group is about "people helping people" who have encountered any form of grief/loss in their life. Should you desire a deeper understanding of what it means to live a more meaningful "life after loss" we invite you to join us. Unless otherwise notified, we meet the first and third Mondays of each month from 1 to 3 pm in RCN Room #3. All information is kept confidential. If you have experienced a form of grief/loss and would like to join the group, please text/call Byron Thomsen beforehand at (909) 936- 7097 or email him at byron.thomsen@yahoo.com Days like Valentine's Day can create acknowledging love remains, lighting a candle, saying their name, donating in their memory, and gentle self-care moments create soft landings for healing. When we allow others to share our grief on Valentine's Day, it creates opportunities for us to feel less alone. ~ Byron omsen It has been such a blessing to study the synoptic gospels beginning in January 2025: Matthew, Mark and Luke in the New Testament, as we continue to compare and appreciate the differences in each. We have learned that God chose three different men to write about Jesus' teachings directed to specific groups. For instance, Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, Mark for a Roman audience, and Luke for a broader Gentile audience. We learned why Matthew was placed first in order in the Gospels, because Matthew quotes most from the Old Testament, which makes the Gospel of Matthew a perfect bridge from the Old to the New Testaments. We learned that 90 percent of the content in Mark's gospel is found in Matthew and that 50 percent of Mark's gospel appears in Luke. God inspired three Gospel writers to record the events surrounding the same person during the same part of His life, in the same locations, yet with slightly different emphasis geared toward a specific group of readers. Why are they called "Gospels" rather than "Books"? They represent the "Good News" (Gospel) of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels (including the Gospel of John), Jesus is presented as the Messiah of Israel, the Son of God, and the Savior of the World. If any of you delightful and intelligent women residents of Four Seasons would like to join us in studying these Gospels, bring your Bible and please come to The Lodge Game Room any Friday at 10:30 am to study with us. You won't be disappointed. ~ Eileen Gilbert- Antoine, (951) 922-6829 or egcellent@msn.com "Believe …" Women's Bible Study

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