Steve Jobs (1955 – 2011)

Steve Jobs will not only be remembered as Apple’s co-founder, he will also be remembered for his incredibly popular presentations. He is described as a visionary, a mentor, a good friend, and a beloved leader. He meant the world to his family, and he meant everything to the world.

Although the death of Steve Jobs made headlines October 5, 2011, countless families also experienced a broken heart because someone they loved died on the same day; they may not have even heard about Jobs’ death. For some, their loved one’s death may have been expected, for others it was sudden and tragic. Some lived a long life while others, like Jobs, died far too young… far too soon. These deaths teach us that life is precious and death arrives on its terms, not ours.

Heartbreak is a global epidemic. One may ask, “With all the material and resources available today, why has heartbreak escalated to that of epidemic proportion?” It has skyrocketed because we remain a dismissive and mourning-avoidant culture grounded in this assumption… people will get over what has happened to them with time. My next book Life Losses: Healing for a Broken Heart exposes the flaws in this theory, underscoring that it is not time that heals all  but rather it is what we do with the time that heals all.

Divorce and separation, trauma, chronic illness (e.g. Alzheimer disease) and even the downward spiral of the world economy are common loss experiences in this century. All are a source of heartbreak and grief and if left unresolved can have profound and lingering effects, such as depression, relationship breakdown, substance abuse and even disease. Although the frequency in which these events occur have become commonplace, the anguish that emerges as a result is daunting and cannot be cast aside. There is no way around the pain – one can only go through it to get to the other side.

A broken heart is most often associated with death. However, in reflecting on the different ways we encounter loss, people realize that they have endured a loss, or multiple losses, or supported someone through the grief process. This awareness often turns their world upside down. Like a dam breaking, unresolved grief spills into every area of their life, causing a deep confusion and the inability to comprehend how an event from the past could wreak such havoc in the present. The purpose of http://www.lifelosses.com/ and my book is to help individuals reconcile their sorrow.

Steve Jobs was courageous, inspirational and passionate. He will be missed, but forever remembered. To pay tribute to Steve Jobs, visit www.apple.com or submit your thoughts and prayers to remembersteve@apple.com.