Grief has no time frame
Grief. Is such a powerful emotion, and is a powerful driving force. It cumulates and morphs and is unpredictable. There's no rhyme or reason to when grief rears up from the depths and becomes overwhelming. And absolutely anything can trigger that grief response once it's there.
I have lost so very much. I have a lot to be grateful and thankful for, but I'm acknowledging my losses tonight. I've lost dear friends in my formative years to accidents, suicide, and abuse. My brother passed unexpectedly at the age of 30 12 years ago, just before I met and fell in love with my husband. Since then, I've experienced several other significant losses, including my now husband's Mom and my own Dad.
And now, struggling with my own body. Still trying to figure out my world with the grief, navigating the universe with the new realities. It's hard.
There is no timeline for grief. There's no linear path. It goes in loops and zigs and zags. I find myself tearing up looking at news headlines, watching funny shows, seeing touching moments, struggling to put new linens on the bed.
There are no parameters for grief. We, at some point in our lives, start to grieve our personal losses as well as our collective losses. And all we can do is accept that we're grieving. And allow ourselves the space to grieve.
I'm not mad at myself for being sad. I just hate the tear response because I am a horrible crier and it makes me feel awful for a few days.
I've recently realized that some of the people around me are new to dealing with grief. And they're struggling with it. It's brought out my compassionate side, and I just want to help them get to a place where they feel safe.
I'm thinking a lot about the grief tonight, and trying to process these feelings in a positive way. So sending out much love to the universe tonight. đź’śđź’ś
I'm sorry to hear about the loss that you've had to experience in life. As someone who lost my mom almost eight years ago, I can definitely identify with the wild ride of grief. The year my mom passed was the same year I was diagnosed with MS, so I was grieving so much. This process certainly has taught me a lot about life, myself and the importance of honoring each of our unique ways to grieve - no matter what the grief is over! Sending you much support and encouragement today.
Best
Alene (team member)I used to be one of those people 🤣. Shove that pain down deep and ignore it. It was so unhealthy to live that way.
Somewhere along the line, I realized that life is written in pen, it can't be erased. Everything that has happened, happened. And everything that happened has added to my story and helped me grow into the person I am today.
Sometimes my grief comes out in inappropriate ways (I get a little snappy and cranky), but I'm now able to step back, apologize to anyone affected, and acknowledge that my soul is hurting. And I've learned to pay attention to my triggers, and the triggers of the people in my circle. If I know that I'm going to have a wave of sadness, I may not tell my tribe why, but I will acknowledge that it's not a good time at the moment.
đź’śđź’śthis is such a beautiful reflection on grief - and life in general! We're all entitled to our emotions, especially as we go through the hard seasons in life, but you have an amazing perspective to honor your feelings, while finding the best way to move forward. Thanks for taking the time to share this with us.
Best
Alene (Team member)
Grief is such a powerful and unpredictable force, and you’ve described it in a way that really resonates. I can relate to what you’re saying. For me, grief feels like a constant companion—sometimes it’s just quietly in the background, and other times it hits me out of nowhere, triggered by something as small as a song or a random memory. From the loss of my mother and my marriage, it's a never ending battle with grief. But you’ve been through so much loss, yet you still manage to hold on to gratitude and show compassion for others who are grieving. That says so much about your strength and heart. Grief isn’t something you “get over”—it’s something you learn to live with, to carry in a way that lets you keep moving forward while honoring what you’ve lost. I hope you can keep giving yourself the care and space you need. You deserve that. Sending lots of love your way as you navigate it all. 💜💜💜 Kindly, Latoya (Team Member) thank you for sharing! And I'm sorry for your losses. I totally relate to your statement that grief is a constant companion.
I used to try to bury my grief, it took me almost a decade to finally confront my feelings about losing my older brother. And it was then that I learned to embrace the grief. To coexist with it. Through that process I was finally able to truly honor the loss.
It can be something so small, a smell, an old song, a flavor that can bring a fresh wave of grief. One of the things that gets me the hardest is when I get to go to new places or I have a new experience. Like the first time I saw the Pacific ocean after my brother died. I was in so much awe of the raw power and beauty of the ocean, and the next minute felt like I'd been throat punched with the realization that I was experiencing something that he never had and I couldn't share it with him. Those moments of realization help me find so much joy in the world around me and really appreciate the awe that places and experiences inspire within me.
I remain grateful, and am a better person for every individual that has touched my life. Sending you much love! đź’ś
