The Journey: Robyn's Story

Stories connect us, allow us to share our view of the world, teach us about ourselves, capture memories, and create emotional bonds with one another. Storytelling can also be a key part of the grieving journey, allowing us the means to not only tell the stories of our loved ones but assist us to process our emotions of loss.

Robyn Saynor is a member of our Community Care & Wellbeing community, and we're grateful to her for sharing with us her own piece of healing storytelling, detailing the cruise to New Zealand that she undertook in honour of her late mother, Meryl Saynor.

How do we survive through our loss of loved ones?

I lost my Dad, and then my Mum in 2019. I struggled through all the emotions of grief until finally, this year, overwhelmed by sorrow, depression and regrets, I suddenly booked a last-minute cruise to New Zealand on the Queen Elizabeth, leaving soon – in two weeks!

Mum had always dreamt of, and asked me, about going on a cruise.

On my first night aboard I was emotionally exhausted and I wanted to be left alone. But people spoke kindly with me. A couple of days later, I was ready to speak with people too, and over the following two weeks I connected, not only with Mum, but with others. I realised there were lovely people around me.

We exchanged acts of kindness. We shared compliments. We talked of life, loss and deep experiences. And we actually laughed, too!

I was told: “I am a traveler, travelling on a journey called Life”.

A kind soul even told me, “You will be alright” – and these last words I want to pass on to you now.

I now feel I am coming back to life.

So, how do we survive through our loss of loved ones?

Keep travelling through life. Keep giving yourself good experiences, even if only very small and only temporary. It’s all we can do.

You WILL be alright.