It’s OK to Grieve for the Small Losses of a Lost Year

From The New York Times, By Tara Parker-Pope, March 15, 2021

When I’ve asked people what they lost in the past year of pandemic life, the answer often starts the same way.

“I can’t complain.”

“I’m one of the lucky ones.”

“I know I should count my blessings.”

From lost time with grandchildren to canceled vacations, we need to give ourselves permission to mourn. There is a name for grief that isn’t routinely acknowledged: disenfranchised grief.

One of the biggest challenges with disenfranchised grief is getting the person who is suffering to acknowledge the legitimacy of their own grief. Once you accept that your grief is real, there are steps you can take to help you cope.