NOBODY'S HOME
And I Don't Want to Go There
from Grief Expressed: When Your Mate Dies

The few things I needed were already in the supermarket cart. I looked at my watch. I had been wandering aimlessly up and down the aisles for thirty minutes, not choosing any groceries, not remembering anything I'd seen. And then I realized I didn't want to go home. Why should I? Joe wasn't there.

Ways to Make the House Seem Less Empty

Use a radio alarm to hear a voice when I wake up.

Turn on the radio before I leave.

Plan something pleasant to do as soon as I get home. Read a book, brew herbal tea, call a friend, take a bubble bath.

Leave a light on to welcome me home.

Consider getting a pet: dog, cat, bird, or maybe fish.

Invite someone to my house each week for coffee, a meal, or a project.

Buy some houseplants and talk to each one. (It's supposed to make them flourish and grow.)

Interact with someone every day, on the phone or in person.

Change the area where he always sat to make it look different.

Using the TV Guide, make a viewing schedule for the week.

Plan dates with friends and things to do to get out of the house. Try to balance these outings so I don't have too many days home alone.

Summary Statement: To acknowledge that I hate to go home helps me face the emptiness and do something about it. I can start today by doing some of the things I have listed above. I will check this list from time to time and add other things.

Answer the following:

How I feel about going home and the emptiness there:

Ways to Make the House Seem Less Empty:

Summary Statement:

Click on the links below to read the chapters:

NOBODY'S HOMELET NATURE HEAL
(Grief Expressed)(Finding Your Way)

WHERE ARE THE FRIENDS?START A JOURNAL
(Grief Expressed)(Finding Your Way)
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