Quote to remember from Meredith Grey

Just recently I was able to do some catching up of one of my favorite dramas, "Grey's Anatomy." I'm sure that many of you probably watch it... But this year has hit a little closer to home as the residents of Seattle Grace Hospital are trying to overcome the grief and post traumatic stress disorders of the tragic killing spree that occurred at the end of the season last year. After losing many co-workers and dealing with some very devastating situations, the storyline this year has revolved around how the residents go on with their lives. As we all know, it would and should vary from character to character, and "Grey's" has done a very good job staying true to that form. Some of the residents were able to move on very quickly while others are still dealing with the ramifications 6 months or more later... One character in particular is Cristina Yang. Cristina was forced to save the life of her best friend's husband while being held at gunpoint. Her boyfriend, at the time, was also shot by the gunman while she was performing the surgery. Cristina was able to complete the surgery, have it be successful along with her boyfriend living, yet Cristina hasn't been able to overcome the grief and PTSD of the situation. **Spoiler alert**Since the shooting, she has refused to do any other surgeries and even quit her job (so sorry if I spoiled this). Cristina has been to see a grief counselor and has the support of some very loving friends. This has all been helpful to her, but she's had to make decisions in the best interest of her. She chose not to perform any more surgeries. She chose to quit her job. She chose to feel comfortable with only certain people. She chose to make other life choices. This is how a tv character is dealing with her grief....and this is the way we should all be allowed to deal with ours. The show that I just watched ended with a very poetic and thoughtful statement that I thought fit all of our situations in some way, shape or form:

"The goal of any surgery is total recovery - to come out better than you were before. Some patients heal quickly and feel immediate relief. For others the healing happens gradually, and it's not until months or even years later that you realize you don't hurt anymore. So the challenge after any surgery is to be patient. But if you can make it through the first weeks and months, if you believe that healing is possible, then you can get your life back. But that's a big if."

Not that I think what we have gone through can ever be totally recovered...but I think the things that we do for ourselves help to benefit us. They help us to heal. And some heal quicker than others....some choose not to blog. not to join support groups. not to connect with others. not to remember really at all. and they are okay with this. For the majority of us....the healing is taking time. And some days are better than others. But the idea is to be patient and know that we have time. And that if we need time, we should take it. There's no time line to grief. Just believe that time will heal...and does. There is no guarantee that you will get the life you had before back (which many of us already realize), but there will be pieces still there when you are ready. There will be things/people waiting for you. Those are the people/things that truly matter. They are the things/people you want and need in your life. It will be worth it to be with those people or do those things when you are ready. Just give it time. Cristina Yang is learning this...and we are all too. Check Grey's out sometime. It's really been a great season to do so. (By the way, I'm not at all affiliated with the show) :)