The Wisdom of Traditional Proverbs and Sayings
It is with great sadness that I send my condolences to those who have passed, for the loss of loved ones, friends, family pets and more. We share to treasure the memories we had and cherish our last moments on earth. On this day of remembrance we are reminded about the ties that bind us together and our life's journey. Those who have lost loved ones will be comforted when they hear their favorite sayings or old proverbs from times gone by. I am so grateful for all of the wisdom in traditional proverbs because it can be adapted to any situation in modern society today. In the midst of grief it is good to be reminded that life goes on.
"You cannot hide a leaf that has fallen from the tree."
Life goes on and we will go on. The reality is our loved ones are gone. In time we will replace them with new friends, family, lovers and acquaintances. One day this too shall pass and our loved ones will be waiting for us when we cross over to the other side.
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Grief is a very personal experience; there is no way to avoid having your heart broken when losing someone you love dearly. The best thing you can do in this situation is to not be afraid to cry away your fears and frustrations. Once the tears have stopped, it is time to get up, look them in the eye and say "Goodbye."
"Time heals all wounds."
In time our wounds will heal. It will take strength and determination to make it through these tough times but remember that in time you will find a way to smile again.
My favorite line from The Princess Bride is, "death cannot stop true love; all it can do is delay it for a while." Grief cannot kill our loved ones, they are still here because of us; which means we must continue living for them as well as ourselves.
"You cannot run away from your problems, but you can make them smaller by dealing with one at a time."
In life there will be times when you think you cannot bear the burden of going on. You can run away from your problems but the reality is they will always come back to haunt you. The best way to deal with your problems is one day at a time. In time the bigger picture will come together.
"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you."
Time has shown us that our loved ones know us better than anyone else in the world. If we can develop and maintain the right type of relationships, those lasting friendships are the ones that will outlast all others.
"These things look different when I am dead."
When someone is deceased, it is a reminder to us that they will never be able to do certain things again. An example would be a spouse who cannot do their favorite activity anymore. We often think about these things in our mind but do not realize that they hurt so much when we have lost a loved one. If we truly care for them, then it is important to show them their favorite things and places.
"Time lasts for the living."
In no way should time be wasted during this difficult time. Use this time wisely because it will be a reflection of how well you remember them.
"Your joy is your sorrow unmasked." - William Blake
If you are not careful, you may find yourself being consumed by your grief and becoming bitter. It is important to realize that if we allow ourselves to be sad then we have also experienced great joy in that person's life. The best way to deal with grief is to learn how to laugh again and smile.
"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." Wisdom comes in all shapes and sizes; sometimes it comes from the most unassuming places. We should never forget that we can learn from anyone- from our mistakes as well as their wise decisions.
"To be in love is to be in a state of grace." There is tremendous power in the love between two people. In order for love to last, there must be a connection, or at least the realization that you could die without the other person being present.
"There are only two things you need to know about being famous: one is that people will want whatever they have, and the other is they'll give it away." Fame can happen unexpectedly. It cannot be forced but it can also not be earned since it doesn't come with any monetary value. The most important trait of those who seek fame is that they must be ready to handle the consequences.
"You can't have a happy ending if you're still writing your story." We all have our own stories and we create our own endings. What we do today will impact how we feel tomorrow. Do everything you can to be happy today because it is a reflection of how you lived your life in the past and present.
"Life is measured by how many times your heart has been broken."
It may not be easy, but time will heal our heartbreaks. Take the time to look for the silver lining and learn from your mistakes. If you believe you have learned from your mistakes, then put a positive spin on it in the future.
"You cannot go back in time and kill Hitler. But you can kill him before he kills you." If we are too quick to judge someone, or our own mistakes, they will continue to haunt us. We must remember that it is better to forgive and forget than it is to continue feeling guilty about something that happened in the past.
"The only thing I regret is knowing you. Because now I know everything. And now there's nothing left to find out." It is hard to let go and move on in life. Sometimes it is very painful, but it must be done. The best thing we can do for ourselves is to find happiness in the here and now because our future will be what we make of it. We cannot change the past, but we can create a better future for ourselves.
A friend once told me that live is like a party with no end and no beginning; it goes on eternally and we are always living the time right now. We may never know if we will see tomorrow, but this moment right here, this is all we have so take advantage of it.
Conclusion
It is important to realize that the loss of a loved one is an unending spiral of emotions that cuts us off from the world. In time it will get easier but now can be a difficult time for many people. We cannot turn back time and we have no control over what happens in our immediate surroundings, but we can make the changes needed to keep ourselves happy and healthy. If someone you love has died suddenly, it can be very difficult thinking about all of these things alone. We all need each other's support in these times; which means we must reach out to others. Friends and family may be able to understand why you are feeling so sad and how they can help you cope with your loss.