I want to speak directly to you: How often have you found yourself quietly comparing your pain to someone else’s? How often have you thought, “It’s not that bad. Others have it worse”? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This is exactly what people mean by the Grief Olympics – the invisible competition where […]
The Grief Olympics: How Comparing Pain Keeps Us From Healing Read More »
In a previous post, I wrote about ambiguous loss – a type of loss that lacks closure. The kind that leaves you asking, Is this over? Or am I still waiting? It happens when someone is physically here but psychologically gone. Or physically gone but still deeply present in your mind. But there’s another layer
Disenfranchised Grief: What if Your Pain Has a Name? Read More »
Christmas can stir up a thousand emotions — gratitude, joy, nostalgia — but also deep sorrow for what has changed. If this Christmas feels quieter, heavier, or lonelier, or if you find Christmas hard when grieving, please know this: you’re not alone. I understand, I’ve been there, too. I remember my first Christmas without my
When Christmas Feels Hard: A Gentle Guide for Grieving Hearts Read More »
Grief is not a problem to solve. It’s a reality we must live through – sometimes loudly, sometimes quietly, sometimes both at once. When someone you love is grieving, it’s natural to want to support them. And yet when you’re grieving yourself, it can feel impossible to ask for support, let alone accept it. In
What Grievers Really Need: How to Support Others and Yourself Through Grief Read More »
Mother’s Day can be bittersweet for so many of us. And living in England, where Mothering Sunday comes before Mother’s Day in my country and many others, makes it even harder. I lost my mum over a decade ago, and every year this day brings another wave of grief. Surely, celebrations should be about flowers,
Honouring My Mum on Mother’s Day Without Her Read More »
I don’t believe that our grief diminishes, rather it’s us who grow around it. It may seem that time passes very slowly after the loss of a loved one. I remember my dad, as I call my father-in-law, saying a week after we lost mum, that whilst it was only a week, it seems like
Understanding Grief, Bereavement, and Mourning: What Is the Difference? Read More »
Our world was turned upside down once again. We learnt that my mum, as I called my mother-in-law, had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Three months later, we lost her. This was now over a year ago. During that time, as I witnessed what my husband was grappling with, I also found myself reflecting on
Navigating Grief: What It Is and How It Shapes Our Emotions Read More »
It was the night before All Souls Day. As is often the case at this time of year, I found myself thinking about the loss of my mum. I could feel a lump in my throat and shaking in my stomach. And the question, ‘Why, God?’ was on my mind again. ‘Why does it still
When Will My Life Go Back to Normal Again, and Does Grief Ever Go Away? Read More »
