Last year, I lost my grandfather. It was probably one of the hardest times in my life. And I know the past year and a half has led to a loss for many of us. The only way I was able to get through it was with my hobbies. Grief is a tricky thing and it is different for everyone, so I cannot guarantee the things that helped me will be helpful to you. However, if my experience can help at least one other person to recover from their own loss, writing this guide will have been worth it.
Grief is hard to deal with, especially when you have no way to manage it. Hobbies can be one of the ways you can get through this hard time. Hobbies can be used to honour your loved ones, express your emotions, and distract you. If you are struggling with the loss of a loved one, try using your hobbies.
In Memory Of…
The few months after my grandfather died, I didn’t want to create anything. But eventually, I couldn’t resist the pull of creating art, or writing, or anything else. However, I ran into a new dilemma when I started to create. Everything I made was created in honour of my grandfather.
It started with painting. I like to paint mountain and water scenes because they are simple and beautiful but also because they remind me of my grandfather. He adored his little cabin by the water. Therefore, all the paintings I made were, in a way, dedicated to him.
It felt nice to create something that would last forever. Painting scenes that reminded me of him felt as if he could live on in my art. He can never truly be gone if I still remember him. Everything I created in his memory helped me to continue his legacy. And everything I created made me feel better.
Later on, I started to write for a school magazine. My very first article was about the french community in my region, a topic he was really passionate about. Using that article, I was able to tell him in my own way that I missed him. Writing in memory of my grandfather makes me feel more connected to him.
If you are experiencing the same thing I was going through, doing your hobbies in memory of your loved one can be powerful. You are honouring them and allowing your loved ones to live on with you. It doesn’t matter how you use your hobbies in their memory as long as you continue to hold them in your heart.
Expressing Your Emotions
There are lots of emotions associated with grief: sadness, anger, fear, and more. All the emotions become bottled up because it can be a lot to handle at once. However, not expressing those emotions isn’t good for you. If you can’t let out the pain from losing someone, you can never truly lessen those feelings. If you don’t express it, you will still harbour the pain.
That’s where hobbies come in. A lot of hobbies can be used to express and wear out those feelings.
For instance, you might enjoy some kind of sport. Playing that sport might be helpful for relieving some of your anger or sadness. Or you might enjoy some kind of art form. Putting all of your emotions into your art is one way to express your emotions without having to say them aloud.
Sometimes the hardest part about grief is not being able to talk about it because others don’t always understand how you are feeling. Even when you tell someone, they might not know how to comfort you. From there, you start to keep the emotions to yourself, but that’s what you shouldn’t do.
Finding other ways to express those emotions is crucial to your mental health. Your hobbies can be the outlet you need.
Distractions from Grief
Because the emotions that come with grief can be so strong, it is sometimes necessary to find a distraction. I am not saying you shouldn’t feel or express your emotions, but those emotions can be draining. A break provides you with that much-needed time to regain your strength.
When I first lost my grandfather, I needed plenty of distractions so that I wouldn’t cry all day. I would watch movies, paint, and more. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t trying to avoid my emotions. I talked through them a lot. It was just nice not to have to concentrate on my grief for a few hours.
Your hobbies are perfect for providing you with those distractions. You’ll still be thinking about it but not having to concentrate on your sadness can be a relief. It is okay to feel happy again or to, at least, not be thinking about that person for a while. They would want you to move on, which you can’t do while constantly grieving.
Give yourself some time to recover by distracting yourself with your hobbies. A short break might be exactly what you need after the hard times you’ve had recently.
Losing a loved one is one of the worst feelings in the world. The grief can, at times, feel unbearable. However, there are ways to deal with grief using your hobbies. Hobbies can be a great way to honour your loved ones. They can live on within your actions and creations. Hobbies can also be helpful for expressing your emotions. You can use your hobbies as an outlet. Lastly, if all else fails, your hobbies can be used as a distraction for a little while. Hobbies are one of the ways that you can deal with your grief.
(I am not a licensed therapist or psychologist, and therefore, none of these ways to deal with grief should be used to replace getting help from a professional. If you are suffering from grief and bereavement, there are resources to help you. Please seek help if you need it.)
