Mar 4, 2023
The experience of grief is one of the most challenging and
emotionally charged aspects of the human experience. Whether we
lose a loved one suddenly or after a prolonged illness, the process
of grieving can be a long and difficult one that affects us deeply
on many levels.
In the digital age, we now face a new dimension of grief - the
digital goodbye. With the prevalence of social media and other
forms of digital communication, we now have more areas of closure
to consider than ever before.
For many of us, the Facebook page of the deceased is one of the
primary sources of grief. We may find ourselves checking their
page, looking for any signs that they are still with us in some
way. We may see their posts from the past and be reminded of their
humor, their kindness, or their love. But at the same time, seeing
these reminders can break our hearts all over again, as we are
faced with the reality that they are no longer here.
Another aspect of the digital goodbye is the social media presence
of the deceased. Do we leave their accounts active, or do we delete
them? There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it is
a deeply personal decision. Some may choose to leave the accounts
active as a way of keeping the person's memory alive, while others
may prefer to delete the accounts as a way of moving on.
One of the most challenging aspects of the digital goodbye is the
yearly reminders that come up on our social media sites. Facebook,
for example, will often send us reminders of past posts that we
shared with the person who has passed away. These reminders can be
incredibly painful, as they bring back memories of times that we
shared with the person and remind us of the loss that we have
experienced.
The cell phone number of the deceased is another area of closure
that we need to consider. Do we keep the number or cancel it? This
is another deeply personal decision that depends on the individual
circumstances. Some may choose to keep the number as a way of
feeling connected to the person, while others may find it too
painful to be reminded of the loss every time they see the
number.
In conclusion, the digital goodbye is a new aspect of grief that we
must learn to navigate in the digital age. It is a deeply personal
process that requires us to consider our own feelings and emotions
in the context of the technology that surrounds us. While it can be
challenging and painful, it is also an opportunity to honor the
memory of those who have passed and find ways to keep them alive in
our hearts and minds.