Celebrating a lifetime - The Art of Grieving

Thirteen days ago a dear friend of mine lost her father. She had sent out text messages informing her family and friends of his demise.

I chose to call a few days later to speak with her and convey my condolement and my advice, something I learnt years ago from another friend - Do not dwell in his death, instead celebrate his life time. She said that she and her family were just doing that.

She had sent out text inviting people to attend a morning meeting today. It was the thirteenth day after his demise. It was not the usual prayer meeting. Nor was the text a usual terse message. They were calling to invite people to share and celebrate his life.

The family had spent the last thirteen days collecting memorabilia from her father's lifetime - pictures, sketches, telegrams, letters , his art kit and many more. They reached out to his friends and colleagues, many long lost, in India and abroad and stitched together video and audio bytes of their connect with her father.

The memorabilia were laid out and displayed as if an artist was displaying his life time , but this time not in person. The projector beamed loving memories of the people he had connected in his lifetime.

This truly is The Art of Grieving.

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