The grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one is crippling. In Feeling Left Behind, author Kim Murdock relates and empathizes with that pain because she’s been there. She knows what it feels like to be woefully blindsided by music or at the grocery store, to reconsider the future alone, and to connect with a person who is no longer alive. You will relate to her chapters as she describes:
● The crushing desire to freeze time and isolate yourself
● The unstable phase of “firsts”― first holidays, birthdays, anniversaries
● The anger and sadness at seeing other couples
● The loss of self, empathy, security, and tolerance
● The heartbreaking sadness of getting rid of their belongings
● And so much more
This is not a step-by-step guide on how to grieve. Kim outlines every detail of her experience as well as the experiences of her widow/widower friends to show you that you are not alone. You are normal. And you deserve as much time as possible to figure out how to survive in your own way.
Kim Murdock is a writer and editor who has made it her mission to help those dealing with the loss of a loved one, particularly a spouse. After becoming a widow at 42, she didn't want people to tell her how to heal or that everything happens for a reason. She just wanted to know that her feelings were normal. She spent almost three years working with a grief counselor and joined a young widows group, becoming good friends with many widows/widowers. Having these outlets to share her feelings and know she wasn't alone was really the only thing that helped her.
In gratitude to the widows and widowers who helped her, she decided to pay it forward and support others suffering a loss. In her award-winning book, Feeling Left Behind, she shares her experiences and feelings to help others know they aren't alone and that their feelings are normal. In a candid and heartfelt way, she expresses what many–maybe even most–grieving people feel and experience.
Summer . . . it’s always been my favorite season. I worked hard in school and loved summer break, when stress disappeared and I got to relax, travel, and read. I used to enjoy laying on a raft in the pool while reading a delicious novel with no demands on my time. That was the life. Now, I no longer linger on a raft while reading, but I still love to sit outside on my patio and devour an enjoyable book. Unfortunately, as an adult, I don’t often have the time to just relax outside and read like I did as a teenager. I now have bills to pay, a house to maintain, and other obligations. Also, when I don’t have work, I usually prefer to hike, which is my favorite activity. I especially appreciate demanding hikes where I witness stunning scenery and don’t see many people. My friends live in one of Colorado’s ski resort towns with hiking trails nearby. I sometimes get to pet sit at their house when they travel. My perfect day is a challenging hike surrounded by the amazing scenery and then sitting on their balcony, while basking in the sun, seeing nothing but trees, and reading.
Book Excerpt
Feeling Left Behind: Permission to Grieve
I miss going to free concerts in the park. In Denver, the Denver Municipal Band plays free concerts in the local park on summer nights. We would pack up our picnic dinners and walk to the park almost every Sunday. It was sort of a dull thing to do, and it wasn’t necessarily music I liked, but boy do I miss it.
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