Why I wrote this book
I lost a big part of myself and my identity after Dad suddenly died in May 2023 … almost 9 years to the day after we lost Mom. Two days later after Dad’s demise, my father-in-law passed away unexpectedly. May 2023 still feels like a dystopian novel. This past year has broken me but also made me stronger. It has shown me how much love I have in my life and my life’s purpose. My intention with this book is to use what I learned through navigating my grief to help others. As much as we wish we didn’t have to experience it, the truth of life is that grief touches each one of us at some point. I hope this book can help you in some way at a time you need it.
I figured in this book I would share 108 tips on coping with grief and loss with anyone who needs it. You can gift it to a friend who is hurting. You can read it, so you can feel more confident in offering help to someone hurting, even if that person is you. The suggestions are practical, compassionate, respectful, unfiltered, unapologetic, and authentic that have helped me redefine myself in a world where I am officially parentless. I hope the book serves as a guide in your healing journey.
Review
Grief is a universal phenomenon and impacts us all at some point in our lives. In The Loss That Binds Us author Sweta Vikram writes a heartfelt guide to coping with the grief and agony of losing a loved one. Within, you will find solace, comfort, and even inspiration on how to navigate the multitude of emotions brought on by loss. Getting through the period of grief is complicated, whether it is your grief or that of someone close to you.
“Vikram sheds light on the various stages of grief, emphasizing emotional and mental wellbeing. The Loss That Binds Us provides readers with practical suggestions to cope with, embrace and live through grief.” Inder Kalra, M.D.
How does one begin the process of healing? How do you move on or support someone who is grieving? The Loss That Binds Us looks at grief in its various facets and helps you identify what you are experiencing. It offers 108 practical tips using examples from Vikram’s journey coping with the grief of losing her parents. The author helps you acknowledge, understand, and accept what you may be experiencing. The Loss That Binds Us is an intentional, insightful, deep, raw, sometimes funny, and always real book, you will turn to if you are experiencing loss. You’ll want to keep this book by your side.
An extract: Tip#91- Believe in the mystical
After the death of someone close to you, you might find yourself looking for signs that they’re still with you. I have read that if you see a feather or a butterfly or a pigeon or a coin or a strange smell appears out of nowhere, it could be a deceased loved one communicating. For example, my mother was very fond of Mogra, which is Indian Jasmine. In the middle of hot and humid New York City, there have been times I have smelled the fragrance of Mogra flowers in the oddest of places. After my mom passed away, whenever my father visited us in NYC, a curious pigeon sat on our windowsill daily when I cooked. It would pace up and down but with one eye on my kitchen. In August 2023, two days after my father’s 90-day passing and on the 90th day of my father-in-law’s death anniversary, one evening I was out for a walk in Battery Park. Suddenly, a monarch butterfly fluttered around me. There was something so reassuring about watching it perch itself on a flower. Whether or not you believe that the dead can communicate with the living, certain signs can bring you comfort and remind you of a loved one who has passed away. Maybe keep an open mind?
Capturing loss
“Sweta Vikram beautifully captures the complexities of navigating loss and the importance of acknowledging our grief and full range of emotions. I appreciated her honesty, the practicality of the 108 tips she shared, and the reminder that unresolved grief can seriously impact our well-being. The personal stories and insights shared within these pages are relatable and provide comfort and guidance for anyone going through a similar experience. I highly recommend this book to anyone needing guidance and support during their healing journey.” Mona Bijoor, Founder at Sol TV
“The Loss That Binds Us: 108 Tips on Coping with Grief and Loss,” releases on Monday, April 1st, 2024. Modern History Press.
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