Among all the emotions connected with loss, anger was the most challenging. My husband, even when confronted with what turned out to be a terminal illness, told me that he seldom felt angry. He logically approached life, stating, “It’s just bad luck.” On the contrary, I found it difficult to accept the unfairness of his suffering and the randomness of the universe.

In the months following his death, I felt both anger and grief. I often felt envious when I would see others together. I felt like an outsider who had lost not only my partner but my sense of self.
I worked hard to allow my anger while finding ways to manage it. Instead of resenting others, I tried to send a silent blessing their way. I focused on my own blessings by constructing a Gratitude Tree which involved writing my blessings onto colorful scraps of paper that I fastened to some bare tree branches. I read each day from an invaluable book, Grief One Day at a Time by Dr. Alan Wolfelt. This book offered insightful reflections and inspiration, providing a positive daily foundation.
I focused on the things I still had rather than all I had lost. With time, my anger began to fade.

I created this piece to express my ongoing anger. I used steel wool and nylon netting to represent the darkness and turbulence of my anger. The rugged flower emerging from the dark tangle against a brilliant blue background symbolizes my hope for healing and acceptance of my anger.