Monday, March 25, 2013

Guilt


The normal definition of Survivor's Guilt has to do with someone who feels guilty that they survived in combat or a natural disaster, a widespread layoff or some such major catastrophe. However, I have to tell you that not only I, but several of my friends who have lost spouses, have felt guilt about living and enjoying life after the spouse is gone.  I don't know whether that fits the psychological definition of Survivor's Guilt or not but it is a real feeling.

Maybe, these lines from  the song "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" in the musical  Les Misérables express it best:

.....forgive me, that I live and you are gone.
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
.....There's a pain goes on and on.

I've told my family and friends that I feel guilty about still being here and enjoying life without Ned and they have all told me that I shouldn't feel that way. That Ned would not want me to be unhappy. I heard what they said but I have still felt a heavy overcoat of guilt.

Sunday was a lovely day. I was in San Miguel. The sun was shining. The skies were blue. The Jacaranda was in bloom. It was Palm Sunday. Ned and I always went into town to see the Processions. Today the Processions were wonderful and I photographed them and talked with friends I met along the way. Then I had a iced coffee at Starbucks and sat in the lovely patio of the old colonia building that houses Starbucks.

My heart was singing and I was happy until the tape started playing in my head about how could I be happy when Ned wasn't here to enjoy this beautiful day with me. But then I heard a voice that asked me, "If you had died first, what would Ned be doing?"

What would Ned be doing? He would be here in San Miguel. He would be going to the gym three days a week. He would be on his computer. He would be going out with friends. He would be taking care of house repairs and watering plants. He would cook breakfast  for himself and sometimes dinner. He would have the car here and he would drive to Costco and Home Depot in Celaya or Queretaro. In the late afternoon he would sit up on the terrace with a drink in hand and watch the sunset reflections in the windows back toward town. And, I think, Ned would be asking some lady friends to go to gallery openings with him and out to dinner because he liked to do that but he would not do it by himself. He would be making a life for himself. Then the voice asked, "Isn't that what you would want him to do? To be happy?"

Suddenly I realized that Ned would want the same for me, for me to have a full and happy life. I know my friends and family told me that but now I've heard it from The Voice, really heard it, for the first time. I think that maybe I can now get past the guilt, not the grief, but past the guilt.

The image of the fern was taken in the courtyard at Starbucks. The fountain is always so fresh and tinkly (is that a word?) I always take a picture of it when I have my camera with me.


5 comments:

  1. Beautifully written and very poignant.
    I read LOTS of self-help books a long time ago. The only phrase that stuck with me from Wayne Dyer is, "Guilt never changes the past and worry never changes the future". So true. I try.....

    Lovely photo of the maidenhair fern. I love that you are so AWARE! It's a gift.

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  2. I am enjoying this parh you are treading. And telling so eloquently.

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  3. Well written. My mother lost my father almost 10 years ago. After some difficulty, she plunged back into life, finding new friends, swimming almost daily with her exercise group, etc. It takes courage, but it's part of the process. My father had been a very sanguine person; I know he would have done the same had she died first.

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  4. Laurie, plunging back into life is probably one of the best things we can do for our children. I know my kids are happy to see me picking up and moving on rather than moping and depending on them to "cheer" me up. And not just because moping would be a burden to them but because they truly want to see me happy.

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  5. I see this from a different angle, in reading your thoughts about Ned, I thought of it as beautiful memories that are living in your heart. Ned isn't gone because he lives on in your heart and memories. Live life and enjoy it as he would wish you to do.

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