8 July each year is oneofusismissing day. It was started in April 2021 by Latonya Brown after she lost her daughter in an accident. The day commemorates our departed loved ones. It’s a day for healing, remembrance and shared grief. It encourages those of us who live on to be grateful for every day we have. It’s an opportunity to set aside all differences in race, religion, class and creed to unite in our appreciation of life and those who are no longer with us.
Latonya speaks eloquently about her experience, why she created this special day and her grief. She said, “On this day 2019, I joined a culture of people I never intended on joining. I lost my only daughter in a horrible car accident with two of her best friends. This does not sum up their lives but it brings awareness to the fact that we only have one life and one chance. I survived losing my daughter. She is the reason I stepped into the role of a mother. My body transformed to bring forth a life that’s no longer here. The age of her life is not what’s important. One of us will always be missing”.
She went on to say, “Recently, we’ve lost so many people in record numbers. I want their families to know that we stand together in the grieving process. There is life after death. It’s ok to live, laugh and love again. On this day we can reflect on those we have lost by doing a cohesive fun activity to promote healing. This will be the day that people of all nationalities across the nation can come together and celebrate the lives and experiences of those we have lost to gun violence, police brutality, accidents, miscarriages, stillbirths and natural causes. Grief will not consume us. This day will be a day of healing!”
I think this is a healthy and powerful message about grief and loss. Losing a loved one is traumatic and you should take time to grieve. But in time, you will start to feel better and able to carry on with life again.
Appreciation of the life we have is an important message and we can easily lose sight of what we have when we experience difficult times. Brad Pitt (American Actor) makes a good point when he said, “I had a friend who worked at a hospice, and he said people in their final moments don’t discuss their successes, awards or what books they wrote or what they accomplished. They only talk about their loves and their regrets, and I think that’s very telling”.
As long as we remember our loved ones who have passed they live on. Make time to talk about the time you spent with them, both the good and bad moments, to keep their spirit alive. And remember, you’re most likely not the only one grieving your loved one. Offer your support to others working through the pain of the same loss.
Hypnotherapy can help with grief and adjusting to the loss of a friend or family member. If you think it could help you, then contact me.