The news article that I have chosen is
about Sheryl Sandberg publishing a post on Facebook expressing her feelings and
concerns one year after her husband died. The reason I chose this was that many
of the concerns she expressed were similar to Francis’ thoughts and feelings.
The author, Kate Dailey, included some
excerpts of the post in her article:
"I think when tragedy occurs, it presents a choice. You can
give in to the void, the emptiness that fills your heart, your lungs,
constricts your ability to think or even breathe. Or you can try to find
meaning," Sheryl Sandberg wrote. "These past thirty days, I have
spent many of my moments lost in that void. And I know that many future moments
will be consumed by the vast emptiness as well. But when I can, I want to
choose life and meaning."
This quotation reminds me of Francis throughout the book. At
first, he gave in to the void, but later on, through counselling and talking to
friends, he chose life and meaning. At the end of book, which fast forwards a
few years later, he mentions that he still has those moments of emptiness, but
still chooses life and meaning, just like Sheryl.
Sheryl received a lot of support from her followers and many
people commented their experiences. One woman, Julie Marbles wrote, “It's like
being hit in the nose: it always hurts just as much but you learn to keep
fighting. We learn to breathe. We learn to accept that sometimes out of the
blue grief is going to visit with us. And the road we were on is no longer the
same, nor is the destination nor are the risks and fears and dangers.”
Her quote relates back to both Francis and Sheryl. It can be said
that although there are many coping mechanisms when dealing with grief, this is
the central message behind it. Even though it’s hard, you learn to accept it
and move on.
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