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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2025 55 Life After Loss "e Nature of Healing" Healing is a gradual process of integrating the loss of your loved one into your life (as it is now) and learning to live with a "new normal." It does not mean forgetting. However, it does mean recognizing the important roles that time and patience play in bringing the grieving process to a degree of resolution. Some key points: Mourning versus grief. Mourning includes the outward expressions and adaptations we make after a loss (crying, rituals). Grief, on the other hand, consists of the internal thoughts and feelings we experience following a loss (loneliness, despair, anger). Essentially, grief is what you feel; mourning is how you express it. The inner work of processing our feelings is often difficult and painful. Grief is not a wound to be healed. Grief is the process of making sense of your loss and navigating your emotions in a world that no longer includes your loved one. Like fingerprints, your individual journey is unique. Self-care is essential. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being through simple daily practices is foundational. Daily routines such as exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep help build resilience during the grieving process. Like a muscle, resilience must be developed. The passage of time is not enough. While the intensity of grief may diminish over time, healing requires active effort. This involves engaging in coping strategies, seeking support, and allowing yourself to process emotions. Finding meaning is key. As the grieving process unfolds, many find it helpful to search for meaning in their loss. This may involve ref lecting on lessons learned, valuing what remains in life, or finding ways to honor the memory of your loved one through ongoing actions or tributes. Social support is crucial. Connecting with others — friends, family, support groups, or therapists — helps reduce feelings of isolation and eventually provides a safe space to share emotions and memories. The Life After Loss Group focuses on "people helping people" who have experienced any form of grief or loss. If 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 on the first and third Mondays of each month from 1 to 3 pm in RCN Activity Room #3. All information is kept confidential. If you have experienced a form of grief or loss and would like to join the group, please call or text Byron Thomsen beforehand at (909) 936-7097, or email him at byron.thomsen@yahoo.com. ~ Byron omsen Hey, all you amazing Four Seasons women! If you haven't already joined "Believe…" Women's Bible Study, now is the time! In August we finished up the study of 1 Samuel and will begin 2 Samuel in September. Second Samuel covers King David's reign over Israel, his military prowess, the establishment of Jerusalem as the capital and the return of the Ark of the Covenant. This book showcases David's leadership, morality and divine intervention. Since we are told in Scripture that David was a "man after God's own heart," [1 Samuel 13:14] the question remains as to how this could be when David committed murder and adultery. We will discuss the obvious answer as we study this amazing man chosen of God, and how he expressed himself in the Book of Psalms (over half of them written by David). Also we will discuss and understand the Davidic Covenant, its importance, and why Christ was referred to as the "Son of David," which we encountered often in our Synoptic Gospels study the first part of this year. We meet every Friday at 10:30 am in The Lodge Game Room. This is a non-denominational study, and any version of the Bible is acceptable. Come join us! ~ Eileen Gilbert- Antoine, (951) 922-6829 or egcellent@msn.com "Believe …" Women's Bible Study

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