April 2025 Blog Prompt: Thoughts on Grief— The feeling of, the handling of.
Contributor of the prompt: *Margaret Dennis

Grief is a strange, deeply personal thing. It can hit you like a tidal wave, crashing over everything you thought was steady. Other times, it’s a slow, aching drip, barely noticeable until it overflows. And the truth is, grief isn’t just about losing a loved one. It can be the end of a relationship, a dream you had to let go of, or even a version of yourself you thought you’d always be.

We all experience grief differently. There’s no perfect, one-size-fits-all way to handle it, no timetable you need to follow. Some days you might feel like you’re getting stronger, only for something small to knock the wind right out of you. That’s okay. It’s all part of the messy, unpredictable process.

For the longest time, I felt like I needed to handle grief the “right” way. To be strong. To heal quickly. To not make anyone else uncomfortable with my pain. But here’s what I’ve learned: giving yourself permission to grieve how you need to is one of the most freeing things you can do.

It’s not about comparing your pain to someone else’s or trying to fit into society’s idea of what healing looks like. It’s about letting yourself feel all of it,  the sadness, the anger, the confusion, and even the moments of peace when they come. It’s about being gentle with yourself, even when the world feels anything but gentle.

If you’re walking through grief right now, I want you to know you’re not alone. Your journey is yours, and there’s no wrong way to travel it. Give yourself the grace to grieve in your own way, in your own time. That’s where real healing begins.