Aging with Grace

When spying a dragonfly dancing on air, your guardian angle is hovering near.

Richard Doyle

In Native America,  the dragonfly is often viewed as the soul or spirit of a deceased love one who has come back to see them. I was drawn to a little, silver, dragonfly, sculpture while shopping with a friend. She shared with me it’s legend and I knew why it spoke to me. My son passed away in his early twenties. It’s been thirty years and he is still with me.

Losing a loved one is a very personal experience and I don’t believe it’s the same for any two people. There is no right or wrong way to deal with it. For me, it was an out of body experience. I went through the motions, held it together, and did what needed to be done while viewing it from above. I was only physically there. It was how I was able to get through it. I checked out. That was my coping mechanism. We can argue about whether it was a good or bad way to deal with it. I believe it’s whatever works for you.

Later, I was able to respond to his death on a personal level. It became easier to accept when I realized that my son had not left me. Of course, I wish he was still physically here. Since that cannot be, I am thankful that he is with me in spirit. I feel his presence, everyday.