3rd Group Therapy Session

Today was my 3rd group session.  I told everyone about my father's death, but I didn't go into detail and was very surprised that no one asked how he died.  They focused more on how I was doing emotionally.  I told them I feel as though I'm on "auto-pilot." 

The therapist said that in the Jewish tradition, when someone dies the family sits around and shares stories (good or bad) about that person.  He asked me if there was anything I wanted to share with the group about my father.  I told them that when I was really young, my father and I would both get up before anyone else.  He would sit in his chair in the den for a while before he made breakfast for the family.  I would come into the den with my stuffed monkey, George, as soon as I woke up.  It never failed that my father would look up, smile, and say, "Here comes George."  I would sit in his lap, sometimes talking, sometimes just sitting quietly (or napping) before it was time to make breakfast.  That was our routine for a long time.  

One of the guys in group cried after my story.  He said it made him think of his relationship with his grandfather.  I was amazed that my simple story could affect someone so much.  It's interesting how some of the members feel safe enough in group to freely express their emotions, whereas in the "real world," these emotions would most likely be suppressed.