If you have ever had a physical injury that resulted in a trip to a physician you have likely been asked to rate your pain on a scale of zero to ten.  Zero being no pain at all and ten being the most excruciating pain you have ever felt.  This is fairly easy to measure and quantify.  If you are off on your own assessment your blood pressure won’t lie!

What about emotional pain?  How is that measured?  Is there a metric for mental anguish?

I have learned in my journey of loss that many times other people share a problem or issue they are dealing with that causes them emotional or mental pain and then say, “I know it doesn’t compare to the pain you feel.”

Let’s talk about that.

Back to physical pain.  One person having a broken leg isn’t necessarily hurting more or less then someone else with a broken arm, right?  What hurts still hurts no matter what someone else is dealing with.

This is SO true for emotional and mental pain.  What is real for you is real.  If something hurts your heart or tears at your mind that is REAL and VALID.  It is NOT relative to the pain or suffering of another.

So, I want to know the things my family and friends are dealing with.  I want to hear their wins as well as their struggles.  I honestly feel cheated when I find out someone I care for was dealing with something they kept from me because they decided it was ‘less’ then the loss of a child.

I truly believe that we are here to listen, to love, to aide one another in ALL of life’s experiences.  I want to be able to laugh through the good and fun times.  I want to wrap my arms around others in love and comfort of their hard times.  I can only do either if I am aware. PLEASE share.

I am being open and honest with my ups and downs and have received SO much love, comfort and support from so many.  I have felt great validation from those of you who are comfortable just ‘sitting in the dark’ with me not trying to hide, fade or fix my grief.  I am grateful for it all!

Let’s #BeReal with ourselves and others so we can make it through this crazy journey together!

All my best,

Genna