Grief feelings aren’t always graceful and poised. They can get messy and overbearing and complicated, and yes— expressing those feelings might make you feel bothersome, annoying or even selfish. But you aren’t. While it is possible to ruminate or get stuck in your grief, you are embarking on a natural process that seeks to honor the memory of a significant loss, and you can do so by engaging in healthy expressions of grief.
Read MoreAs I prayed over what to address in this week’s blog post, my heart came to those of you who are currently walking through the difficult wilderness of disenfranchised grief. Disenfranchised grief occurs when a person’s society, culture, or immediate social circles fail to acknowledge the loss either because the death is stigmatized, or the relationship between the bereaved and deceased is seen as insignificant. Disenfranchised grief can even occur in instances where a death isn’t experienced, but a significant loss absolutely is.
Read MoreOne of the most frequent questions I get from friends and family of grieving individuals: “What do I say? What do I do?”
Even if you say and do all of the “right” things, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will bode well. Because of the uniqueness of the grief journey specific to different people at different times, there’s no way to know if what is right and helpful for one person is right and helpful for another, but you can show up for the grieving individual in healthier, more helpful ways.
Read MoreI was reminded of grief’s turbulent and unique makeup this last week after my creative director shared an account of a close friend losing his semi-estranged father. This close friend’s parents had split at a young age, leaving him packing a suitcase to spend every summer with a father that— to the best of his comprehension— had left his childhood uncertain and his family splintered. As he grew into adulthood, the close friend learned to forge a relationship of sorts with his father, but of course, there were years and bonding opportunities left unaccounted for and a certain degree of bitterness harbored. This story left me pondering the question: Could complicated grief get any more complicated?
Read MoreI know losing a child isn’t something you simply “move on” from. But I’m here to offer you hope in moving forward. There is no one way to grieve, and I hope that gives you self-compassion as you navigate grief on your own timeline and by your own means.
Whether grieving the loss of your own child or supporting someone who has, knowing that there are multiple pathways to navigate grief is imperative to the healing process.
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