Positive Grieving

As the anniversary of the shooting at Virginia Tech approaches, it might be easy for some to mire themselves in the sadder aspects of a horrible day. For some families, however, grief has given way to hope as they find a productive way to remember the loved ones they lost.

Many of the victim’s family members have become active advocates for tighter gun control laws. Others hope to have better mental health care for students, so that the problem of campus violence can be stopped before it begins. It is not unusual to channel loss into action in order to cope with the devastating effects of grief. The thinking is that people trying to deal with the loss of a loved one find it easier if they can give meaning to the death or find something productive to focus on.

It will be a long road for the friends and families in the aftermath of such a tragic loss, and no amount of legislation will bring their loved ones back—but providing a more hopeful future for others is a good start to healing their wounds. [USA Today]