9 Things We Learned from Grieving Over the Past Year

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Grief is a powerful teacher. Over the past year, we’ve navigated the waves of sorrow and discovered some profound truths about what it means to grieve and how to grow through it.

1. Grief is Love Expressing Itself. Grief is the purest form of love, expressed through tears and sadness. It's the heart's way of saying, "I miss you," in the most profound way possible.
2. Joy and Laughter Still Exist. Even in the depths of grief, there will be moments of joy and laughter. These are not signs of forgetting but of honoring the full spectrum of human emotion.
3. Grief Needs to Be Felt. It’s essential to allow yourself to feel and experience grief. Suppressing it only prolongs the pain and hinders healing.
4. Grieving in Public is Okay. Grief doesn’t adhere to a schedule or a location. It’s okay to cry in public or feel the weight of your loss anywhere. Grief shows up when it wants to, and that’s natural.
5. Not Everyone Will Understand. Not everyone will know what to say or how to support you. That’s okay. Your grief is your own, and understanding it fully is a journey unique to you.
6. Grief Takes Many Forms. Grief can look like visiting a gravesite, binge-watching a comfort TV show, or staying in bed with a special playlist on repeat. All these ways are valid. Check in with yourself and choose what feels right at the moment.
7. A Lifelong Relationship with Grief. Grief is not something that goes away. It's a lifelong companion, but you can learn to coexist with it, even make friends with it over time.
8. You Can Still Spend Time with Your Loved One. Even though they’re no longer physically here, you can still spend time with who or what you’re grieving. Try writing letters, speaking to them aloud or in prayer, or hugging something that reminds you of them. Their presence lives on in the love you have for them.
9. You Are Not Alone. Grief is one of the most universal, human experiences. It connects us to our ancestors and the many generations before us who have felt the same profound loss. You are part of a larger tapestry of humanity, and you don’t have to go through this alone.

Grief is an opportunity to connect with different parts of yourself and to grow. It’s about allowing yourself to feel all the feelings and knowing when to ask for help if it becomes overwhelming.

Remember: Help and Community Are Available to You RIGHT NOW

Here are some resources we recommend for support:

• 988 Lifeline - Call or text 988 to connect with a compassionate person ready to listen.
• Option B - A community started by Sheryl Sandberg after the sudden loss of her husband, focusing on building resilience in the face of adversity.
• Untangle Grief - A community and app created by grievers for grievers.
• AFSP - Resources and support specifically for survivors of suicide loss.

Grief is challenging, but it also brings opportunities for connection, understanding, and ultimately, healing. Stay connected, lean on your community, and remember, you are never alone in this journey.