I Can't Get No...
…satisfaction.
People grieve differently. I’ve talked about this in previous posts as well. You never really know what to expect when you meet with a family
Of course, every funeral director has their favorites. The cases where Grandma was 110, lived a long and happy life, and died in her sleep.
We also have our least favorites. The guilty ones.
Those people who feel a sense of guilt for whatever reason. Maybe they didn’t visit enough, or didn’t call when they said they would. Maybe the last time they spoke, the conversation ended with words of hurt, or anger.
Whatever the case may be, they feel guilty. More often than not, these are the types of people that feel inclined to take it out on someone else…..usually, the funeral director .
In cases like these, nothing you say is the right answer, and nothing you do will be enough. You just have to brace yourself and ride it out until their loved one is in the ground and they’ve picked up their death certificates. It’s frustrating, because most funeral directors tend to be empaths. We want to help, and tend to take it personally when we can’t seem to get it right.
I thought I would share what I do to decompress when I get families like these.
I vent to my mentor- if you don’t have a mentor, GET ONE. Mine has been so helpful during rough patches like these. It truly helps me to talk to someone who gets it, who has been in my shoes, and has gotten through the same struggles successfully.
I take a bubble bath at the end of the day. Something about using an exfoliating scrub feels like you’re literally scrubbing the day off of you, and leaving you fresh and new to tackle another day with a new perspective.
I drink. Like I said, these aren’t one-size-fits-all options, but sometimes what you need, is a delicious glass of red wine….and it’s supposed to be good for your heart or whatever so, yay, health!
I call my mom or one of my close friends. Talking to people who know nothing about the industry can be so incredibly helpful. Sometimes, you need that blind loyalty, and talking to people who are exclusively in your corner can truly help to fill your cup. Plus, my mama is the best and she knows ALLLLLLLLL YA’LLS BUSINESS. (Not sorry).
So there you have it. My own personal “get-through- it” guide. These aren’t guaranteed to work for everyone, but I hope you found something in here helpful.
Press on!
