COVID Grief Gathering
Hosted every second Tuesday of the month, the Reimagine community opens its arms to those navigating COVID-related losses. Facilitated by volunteers, these peer-led, drop-in gatherings are for you, whether you're looking to learn about grief experiences specific to COVID or seeking support in your journey of COVID loss. We leverage art, creativity, and prompts to foster conversation and introspection. Designed for adults across generations, the COVID Grief Gathering is your safe space when you need it.
Host/Facilitator Michelle Thornhill
"I help people get to the root of the emotional pain that holds them back from living a happy and satisfying life! I am the founder of Legacy and Hope, LLC, a boutique company that helps individuals & organizations with grief, loss, bereavement, and end-of-life care. I am Vice President of the National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA), where I have served as a member of the Board of Directors and chairperson of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee since 2020. I am an Instructor for the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s End-of-Life Doula Professional Certificate Program and serve as a member of the Advisory Board for Girls Leading Africa and the Advisory Council for Greater Hope Medical Center." https://legacyandhope.com
Community Touchstones
Confidentiality
What’s said here stays here, what’s learned here leaves here.
Everything invitational
See these questions (and this whole experience) as an invitation, not a demand. If you are moved to answer a different question than one we have listed, go for it. If you’re moved to sit and listen, that’s ok too - just being here is participating.
Speak from the heart
We’re used to speaking what we think we should, what we think others want to hear, or from ideas or stories we’ve told ourselves over and over. See if you can take risks to root into what is true and to share from that vulnerable place.
Listen from the heart
See if you can be fully present to what’s here, listening with compassion to whoever is speaking. Try on turning any judgement that arises (including judgment of yourself!) into wonder. “I wonder what brought her to this belief?” “I wonder what I don’t get?” “I wonder what my reaction teaches me about myself?” See if it’s possible to set aside judgment to listen to others—and to yourself—more deeply.
No one right way
There’s no one right way to grieve, to do this retreat, or to express yourself (for example: totally ok to cry, and totally ok not to cry). Try to reserve judgment, of others and of yourself.
Trust the silence
Take a few breaths before even thinking of responding or offering your own words. Learn to trust the silence, and to notice what arises in it. Take your time.
Cool is the enemy
Try on the idea that you (and everyone else here) totally belong. Let’s try to be an easy crowd for each other. That means presuming welcome, and extending welcome. What if we all let go of “cool”? Cool is the enemy. ;)
Share air time
Take space & make space. Groups work best when everyone has their eye on this.
Self-focus
Speak your truth in ways that respect other people’s truths. Consider using “I” statements so that you can speak from your center, instead of generalizing or making assumptions about everyone else.
No fixing, saving, advising, correcting
No need to jump in to fix anything, save anyone, or offer unsolicited advice. Trust folks’ own processes.
Focus on stories about loved ones
This is a space in which we center stories and support. If you are here to challenge or argue the safety practices of others (e.g., masking in public, vaccinations), this is not a space for you.
