Transcripts: Enjoy Life Forever!

Transcript: When a Loved One Dies
[Text: When a loved one dies. A young woman walks alone through trees and greenery]
Presenter: Few things in life are more painful than the death of someone we love.
[Danielle]
Danielle: When my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, I felt incredibly worried and anxious.
(Happy photo of Danielle and her father)
When he finally passed away, I had spent so much time worrying about him and thinking about him that I felt a huge emptiness. I didn’t really know what to do with myself.
[Masahiro and Yoshimi]
Masahiro: Shiho, our daughter, died from a sickness when she was 16 years old.
Yoshimi: She had a disability, so she was always with us.
(Photo of Yoshimi and her young daughter sat on her lap)
Losing someone who was always there, you know, right here in front of you, that loss can’t be expressed in words.
Presenter: If you’ve experienced the loss of someone you love, is there anything that can help ease the pain? No two people experience grief in the same way. But there are some practical suggestions that may help you. These are frequently cited by grief counsellors as being effective. Number one: Accept support from your friends and family.
Danielle: I found it difficult to accept help from others because I felt like what I was going through was so difficult that I felt like my friends wouldn’t understand. But when I reached out to my friends, they could do some of the things that I maybe had enjoyed with my dad.
(Various photos of Danille with friends)
And so, it gave me the confidence that I wasn’t going to be alone, that I had friends that could fill that hole for me.
Masahiro: Our friends sent us upbuilding messages and lots of flowers, enough to fill up this room. Friends are a big help. They truly were there for us.
[‘Two are better that one… For if one of them falls, the other can help his partner up. Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10]
Presenter: Number two: Take care of your health. Maintain a balanced diet,
[Fish, beans and rice]
stay physically active,
[Man jogs]
drink plenty of water and try to get enough sleep. This is especially important when you are grieving, because grief can be exhausting.
Danielle: I found that if I didn’t get good enough sleep, it made things a lot harder. I try to avoid being on my phone too much before bed, and I try and do things that relax me.
[On the bed she looks at a book]
Presenter: Number three: Be balanced.
[Flowers in hand a girl walks through a field]
Many find it helpful to alternate periods of grieving with breaks in their routine.
[Man photographs a sunset]
You might consider spending time with new friends, learning new skills, or just enjoying some time off.
[In the mountains by a stream people bike]
Yoshimi: While at home, I was a bit down and maybe a little pessimistic. But when I stepped outside, I noticed how nice the breeze was, and I felt so much better. Taking moments to relax works.
[‘There is an appointed time for everything… a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to wail and a time to dance’ Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4]
Presenter: Number four: Help others. Many find it helpful to use some of their time to help others, including friends and relatives who are also grieving the loss of your loved one.
Danielle: Acts 20:35, where it says, “there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving,” really helped me. So, I tried every day, even if it was reaching out on the phone, to do something for someone else. And I found that really helped with not just making me happy, but it helped control my anxiety too.
[Bakes cookies for her friends]
Presenter: Number five: Remember your loved one. Many find it comforting to do things that help keep alive the memory of the person they’ve lost.
(Masahiro and Yoshimi look through a photo album)
[Points to old photos]
Yoshimi: We sometimes talk about her, saying, “Shiho used to laugh if we said this” or “Do you remember she liked this?” and remembering those moments warms our hearts.
Presenter: None of these things can completely erase the pain of grief, but they may provide you with at least a measure of relief. The advice offered in this video is in perfect harmony with principles found in the Bible.
[Danielle opens a Bible]
Many who have lost someone they love have found that turning to the Bible gives them peace of mind and comfort. For more information on how the Bible can help you cope with the pain of grief, please visit our website, JW.org.
(Logo: Black capital letters JW.ORG inside a white box. Copyright 2021 Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania)