Like many, a love of learning motivates me to read. Some books also provide a pleasant surprise. Such was the case with “The ABC’s of Grief: Reclaiming Life After Loss” by Loretta McCarthy. In the Forward section, I discovered that the author was a volunteer for Lake County Hospice! A book by a fellow hospice volunteer was just what I have been wanting to find! Feeling inspired, I read the book in one sitting. Of the many books on grief, I often wonder which might be the most helpful to offer one experiencing deep grief? At 92 pages, this book feels more like a pamphlet to offer, so less likely to seem a burden. The title “ABC’s…” doesn’t mean there is a corresponding chapter for every letter. Rather, this comprehensive book illustrates a universal language for all the thoughts and feelings a grieving person can experience. Chapter titles such as: “Earthquake, Yelling, Zone Zero, Harvest” lead one into new perspectives on how grief manifests and how to recalibrate life after loss. Folded into the beginning of each chapter are the author’s personal experiences with grief, which makes the book all the more compelling. It is comforting for a grieving person to feel deeply understood by someone who has also experienced intimate loss. In this way, sharing pain together can open a portal to a renewed sense of self within a supportive community. The book also provides “Simple Tributes and Meditations” that can help the bereaved find a more peaceful path forward. While on the last page of the book, a hummingbird visited me (a rare event), which helped confirm to me this book is something special. I highly recommend offering Loretta McCarthy’s book to anyone that needs a little book on their night stand, to slowly read, and breathe, as grief ebbs, and flows…
Find this book in the Lake County Library system, or purchase at your preferred book outlets and online.
Until the book ends,
Esther Suarez
Hospice Services of Lake County Volunteer