ABJ Video Blog: COOKING – Meet LINDA

Video Script:

This is Linda.  She chose to heal after losing her husband due to an aneurysm, suddenly, while on vacation with family. You can imagine Linda went through a period of time that was extremely difficult and frightening.

My name is Barbara J Hopkinson of A Butterfly’s Journey To a New Normal.  We help individuals and families struggling with grief to find a new normal after experiencing loss of a child or other traumatic loss.

The fact that you are experiencing something that you never thought would happen is exactly why it is normal to feel like Linda was feeling, and this is why we suggest cooking as one way to help you heal. 

That may sound odd, but cooking is not only creative, it is nurturing and it takes some focus.  When you cook, especially for others, you need to do some preparation, as well as create something that looks and tastes good.  Then, when you share it, you are giving with love and getting love in return, which is quite healing. 

We suggest making time to enjoy cooking in this way on a regular basis.

Some ideas for cooking and healing:

• Make some of your loved one’s favorite foods, share with the family and tell stories of them while you are enjoying it.
• Get family and friends involved.  Let everyone make part of the meal that you will share, which gives them time to think of stories too.
• If you don’t know how to cook something the person loved, see if you can buy it and heat it or just tweak it a little to make it your own.

Cooking is an act of love…love for the one you lost and for those who remain. It is creative and healing.  It was for Linda as she chose to heal. 

If you found this video to be helpful them share it and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.  If you have any questions please comment below. Once again, I am Barbara J Hopkinson of A Butterfly’s Journey To a New Normal.  We help individuals and families struggling with grief after traumatic loss to find hope and a new normal.