Moving to a healthier stage

Most experts would agree that dealing with the emotions of grief and loss is difficult, and the healthiest way to do that would be to experience the stages of shock and denial, anger, blame, negotiation and finally acceptance. To do otherwise, there is a great risk of getting stuck in the anger and blame stages, which usually leads to deep resentment, a mountain of bitterness and a short fuse with unknown and possibly hazardous potential.

Curtis E. Stone’s letter (Sept. 8) reminds me of one’s inability to express one’s feelings appropriately because they are stuck in the anger and blame stage and are oddly content to remain there. It also reminds me of the Mad Hatter at a tea party.

Sometimes our lives, life events and political races don’t turn out the way that we would like, but it would be much healthier to accept the reality of what has happened, move on and actively work to help provide positive solutions in the future.

James Gordon Perkins

Spokane