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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | AUGUST 2026 61 Life After Loss Our Values Over time, I have come to understand there is oen merit in sharing some of the basic "guideposts" that frame our group discussions. In telling you what we believe is foundational, my hope is not merely to provide information, but to help illuminate who we are as grievers. Aer all … we are just "people helping people." e Importance of Acknowledgment • Allow yourself to feel. Grief isn't a one-size-ts-all experience, and there is no "right" way to grieve. Embrace your emotions — whether that means crying, expressing anger, or simply feeling numb. • Suppressing grief can lead to complications such as anxiety, depression, or prolonged mourning. Discussing your grief with family and close friends can aid in a healthy managing of your emotions. e Structure of Routine and Self-Care • Maintaining daily routines, like eating regular meals, getting exercise, and continuing hobbies, can provide a sense of normalcy and stability. • Don't isolate yourself. While it's natural to want alone time, complete isolation is detrimental. Engage with loved ones, or seek groups/places of support. e Practice of Honoring and Remembering • Memorializing your loved one can be an important part of the healing process. A traditional ceremony, planting a tree, or setting up a charitable fund in their name are potential ways of integrating the loss into your life. • Don't avoid reminiscing. It's important to remember the good times. Sharing stories and memories keeps the legacy of your loved one alive and can be a healing experience. e Value of Patience with Yourself • Give yourself time. Grieving is not linear and does not have a set time frame. Some days may be harder than others, and that's okay. Recognize that healing is an ongoing process and be gentle with yourself. Society oen puts pressure to "move on" quickly, but grief doesn't work on a timetable. Honor your own pace and give your heart the time it needs to heal. Finding Your Positive Distractions • Engage in activities that bring joy. Consciously engage in activities that bring you joy. Listening to music, reading, or spending time outdoors. • Don't dwell on regrets. Oen in hindsight, we xate on "what ifs" and "should haves." Practice self-compassion. Understand that everyone does the best they can with the information and resources they had available at the time. e Life Aer 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 aer loss," we invite you to join us. Unless otherwise notied, we meet the rst and third Mondays of each month from 1 to 3 pm in RCN Activity Room #3. All information is kept strictly condential. If you have experienced a form of grief/loss and would like to join the group, please text/call Byron omsen beforehand at (909) 936-7097 or email him at byron.thomsen@yahoo.com. ~ Byron omsen We have been studying the Epistle to the Hebrews in the Bible for the past few months, and have learned more from this in- depth study than we did in studying it several years ago. It has been enlightening and challenging. For instance, have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 5:17: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." So you ask, "When [and how] did Christ fulfill the Law [of Moses]?" And when did the New Covenant referred to in the New Testament take effect? We learned that at the very moment Jesus spoke the words, "It is finished.," [His last words on the cross] in John 19:30, the Law of Moses was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Why? Because He lived his life perfectly, and because the law was so complex it would have been impossible to live it perfectly as humans. When Christ died on the cross and gave up his spirit, the veil in the temple was rent top to bottom, proclaiming our privilege of communing with God the Father through Jesus Christ; at the same time, the New Covenant of Grace took effect as well, established by Christ's grace and sacrifice on the cross. If you would enjoy fellowshipping with an extraordinary group of Godly women to study God's amazing Word, please come any Friday at 10:30 am in The Lodge Game Room to join with us. This is a non-denominational study, and any version of the Bible is acceptable. Hope to see you soon! ~ Eileen Gilbert-Antoine, (951) 922-6829 or egcellent@msn.com "Believe …" Women's Bible Study

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