6 Coloradans took to the Colorado River to grieve. What they found was a way to feel less alone.
Losing a loved one leaves people reeling. It forces the body to reconfigure deep bonds and impacts health. One Colorado River retreat aims to help people navigate.
Shannon Mullane/The Colorado Sun
On a cloudy Friday morning in August, pickup trucks and Subarus bustled around the Loma boat ramp, dropping off boats and paddlers ready for a weekend of fun on the Colorado River.
Not far away, a small group of people sat in a circle of camp chairs. They, too, were heading out on the river, but for a different sort of trip.
“We’re going to go around and introduce ourselves,” said Mike Podmore, the leader of the three-day voyage. “Feel free to tell a little bit of your story if you want.”
One by one, the members — all Colorado residents who ranged in age from their 40s to their 70s — shared their stories of death and grief. It was the start of a grief therapy retreat on the Colorado River, and the clients and crew members on the trip had lost parents, children and life partners. This moment was what they came for: a chance to open up space in their day-to-day lives to grieve. With other people who know what it’s like. Without having to act like they were holding it together.
The introductions continued around the circle. The clients agreed to let The Colorado Sun join the trip and quote them anonymously in order to protect the therapeutic process.
Read more from Shannon Mullane at ColoradoSun.com.
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