world

Hang In There, Even As You Cope With Loss.

I started this article on the first week of January after the sad news of a young acquaintance’s sudden passing.

Then, the following week, we lost David Bowie and Alan Rickman, and just recently, Glenn Frey. I thought this message was needed now more than ever.

A few weeks ago, a very talented drummer, Jason Mackenroth, passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer. I got to see and talk to him at a few Rollins Band and Mother Superior gigs. Much like Bowie, he kept his health situation private, and also made music right up to the end.

His death also reminded me of a loss I felt over a year ago when a fellow health coach and mentor, Jessica Marie Hehn, died after a battle with lung cancer. Jason leaves behind a wife and two nearly grown children. Jessica also left her husband, Joe Hehn.

These were not only married couples, but also storybook soul mates. Jessica and Jason were beautiful, talented, kind, energetic, and they had that it factor and star quality.

When the news was shared about Jessica even being sick, it was a shock because to see and know her you would never think in a million years that she would have cancer.

Of all the people who would live to survive it, write a book about it, share and become even more beautiful, even more successful, I thought it would be her. But it wasn’t to be, and she passed away. Sometimes I feel like life is designed rather poorly.

She had it all, and she was a part of a great story on this Earth. This is a bad ending to what is supposed to be a feel-good awesome movie. What the hell is happening?

Why did someone like Jason have to die so soon? He was only 46 years old. Someone who was also so loved by his family and friends and so alive with rock power. Did those beautiful souls out-flame the light?

They probably soared so high that God (or insert your belief system here) responded by saying, “You’re done. You are so sparkly that you have exceeded your sparkle, hence now you need to go elsewhere.” For those of us still on planet Earth, apparently we’re not done.

We still need to be here to do our work.

I was recently humbled by a quotation from a man who has dealt with a lot of loss, Damien Echols, one of the Memphis Three, who was imprisoned for 18 years for a crime he did not commit. He said this in a recent article:

“The magician doesn’t escape the world. He seeks to master it. He seeks to shape the very substance of reality through sheer willpower, until he creates heaven on earth, and there’s no longer any need to escape.”

For those of us dealing with so much loss, can we master our grief? Can we hang in there until we find the next breath, the next sunset, the next day? That is my prayer for us.

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Patricia Biesen

Patricia Biesen

Patricia Biesen is both a graduate of the American Academy of Art and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In professional terms, she can be described as a writer, health coach and an artist. In 'non-professional' terms, she can also be described as the happiest coffee drinker ever, a defender of the beauty of the color: orange, a lover of jellyfish and other ethereal beings and a Mae West quote aficionado. She has had one eclectic career filled with national art exhibits as well as guest blogs for the likes of Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Cancer, ChicagoNow, Blog World Expo, Eight Women Dream, Conscious Divas, and Living Harvest Tempt, to name a few. Connect with her via Facebook & Twitter.
Patricia Biesen
Patricia Biesen

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