This has been a difficult time for everyone. Two years of pandemic, classes moving to online to in person, to online, masks, vaccines, restaurants open or not, all that fun stuff. Loss doesn’t just

This has been a difficult time for everyone.  Two years of pandemic, classes moving to online to in person, to online, masks, vaccines, restaurants open or not, all that fun stuff.  Loss doesn’t just mean death.  Loss can mean any permanent change like a close friend moving to another state, or taking a different job when you really loved your co-workers, or a divorce.  Humans tend to grieve all losses, some more than others, and grief can be formal or informal. Some cultures have very well defined grief rituals.  Some people have found very specific rituals which help them but are specific to themselves.

Write a brief (2-3 page)  informal reflection on loss and transitions.  What have you learned about how you deal with change?  With grief and loss? What are your personal cultural norms for grieving? (sitting shiva, fasting, solitude, wakes, wearing a certain color or eating a certain food, whatever) On what or whom do you rely to get through the tough times?  What resources would you like to develop going forward to help you deal with loss, grief, and transitions?

This is not a formal paper in the sense that you need citations and a bibliography or a title page and running header.  But spelling, grammar, syntax and tenses still matter.  It is not a diary entry.  Always practice good communication.  Read your paper aloud to ensure that it makes sense.