What I wish People Knew About Grief
Today is National Grief Awareness Day. And while every day may feel like grief awareness day for those who are grieving, the point of today is to raise awareness of the many unique and individual ways we cope and deal with loss.
So today, I’m sharing with you 10 things I wish people knew about grief in hopes of furthering both the conversation and the understanding of what it means to live in grief.
Even with the best support, grief is incredibly lonely and isolating.
There is no “normal” in grief and it’s not your place to judge how someone chooses to survive.
Grief is not linear and, in some capacity, lasts forever.
One of the greatest gifts is to show up and hold space for a griever, in spite of your own discomfort.
There is so much guilt associated with moving forward.
Grief isn’t just mourning the loss of a person. It’s also mourning the past, present, and future versions of yourself.
Oftentimes it’s not the big milestones and anniversaries that are the hardest, but the quiet, everyday moments no one sees.
Grief changes relationships.
Saying their name will not remind us they died. It reminds us that they lived.
Grief and joy can coexist.
What is something you wish more people understood about your grief?