Empowering Women

One of AAUW’s (American Association of University Women) goals is to encourage lifelong learning. In the 2008-2009 season, the Hingham Area Branch of AAUW has hosted programs ranging from education reform in Massachusetts to discovering your inner passion.

This month’s program, slated for April 14^th at 7:00PM at the Hingham Public Library, is “Empowering Woman through Life Crisis”, lead by Lynne O’Brien. Lynne, who has a Master’s Degree in counseling and is an AAUW member, has worked in school settings and has been a realtor for the last five years. Recently I spoke with Lynne about her interest in the human experience of loss. She explained, “Woman do a very good job of taking care of everyone else, but we don’t do so well taking care of ourselves through loss.” Lynne added, “Loss can be certainly be the death of a loved one, but it’s also things like the loss of a house, downsizing, loss of youth, and job loss. Since we women will probably live well into our nineties, we will experience many life crises from death to illness.” Some of the latest data from the Center for Disease Control confirms that in general the life expectancy for the US population continues to increase, with the average life expectancy for white women to be 80.8 years, and black women 76.5 years.

Through an interactive process with the group, Lynne will talk about the process of grieving, and the stages most people will experience as they deal with loss, whether it be the loss of a loved one or perhaps loss of self image.

So why is it important, you may wonder, to deal with loss in a healing manner? Bereavement is a part of life and the longer you live, the greater the likelihood you’ll experience it. Grieving is indeed part of the human experience, but depression is not. Unresolved grief can lead to feelings of depression, when anger and guilt begin to turn inward to eat at one’s unconscious. To differentiate between the two, grief is transitory although grieving can last for years, but when a person is grieving, they can still find joy, even if only for a short time. They can laugh, go to work, and resume life activities, undoubtedly feeling painful loss while still being able to function even if at a compromised level. Depression, on the other hand, is a weight that never lifts. People who suffer depression will tell you they feel no joy in a day. Daily activities are always difficult and painful to get through. The feelings of hopelessness and uselessness never leave. Grieving people often cry. Depressed people don’t care enough to cry.

Please join us for this important topic April 14, at 7:00 PM at the Hingham Public Library.

Holders of associate’s or bachelor’s degrees who live in the South Shore towns from Plymouth to Quincy are welcome to join the Hingham Area Branch. To learn more, please call Patricia McKay at 781-337-3375, or email:hollie@gallivan.org. Visit the branch web site at aauw-ma.org and follow the links to the Hingham Branch.

Gwen Sayian is a mental health counselor, Hingham resident and member of AAUW.