^ Grieving what was never real

Conventional wisdom holds that grieving isa process of several stages:

·Shock stage: Initial paralysis at hearing thebad news.

·Denial stage: Trying to avoid the inevitable.

·Anger stage: Frustrated outpouring of bottled-upemotion.

·Bargaining stage: Seeking in vain for a way out.

·Depression stage: Final realization of theinevitable.

·Testing stage: Seeking realistic solutions.

·Acceptance stage: Finally finding the wayforward.

Cycle of Grief

Source: http://changingminds.org/disciplines/change_management/kubler_ross/kubler_ross.htm

I frequently converse with friends on thedeath of expectations when a hoped-for relationship goes nowhere, and how that“death” kicks off a cycle of grieving. It’s annoying to be mired in such acycle. You grieve something that never existed, so you vacillate between thereal feelings of grief and feeling sheepish and imbecilic for grieving whatnever existed.

It is hard being human … silly creatures.