I love these words that Pat Conroy wrote in his introduction to the book, My Losing Season.  “Loss is a fiercer, more uncompromising teacher, coldhearted but clear-eyed in its understanding that life is more dilemma than game, and more trial than free pass.  My acquaintance with loss has sustained me during the stormy passages of my life… “

Conroy then goes on to list all of the loss he has experienced in his life, ending the paragraph with the lessons he has learned from loss.  Some people have faced catastrophic losses in their life and not only recovered, but soared above in ways unimaginable.  For some people, what might be considered a small loss totally devastates and paralyzes an individual.

In my own life, some of my biggest gains in areas of growth have been because of loss.  The process has been painful and uncomfortable at times, but life changing. As we welcome 2012, take time to reflect on losses and lessons you may have learned in 2011.  Was it a job loss and now you are on a different career path?  A relationship that ended painfully, but you welcomed support and new relationships into your life?  Sometimes it takes many years before any clarity from a loss is evident, but I encourage you to look for the lessons you may have learned from loss in your life.

Marlayne Whitlock, M.A.

mwhitlock@ GROWcounseling.com