GOOD GRIEF

08/20/2026

Five things grieving people do not want to hear:

●“Everything happens for a reason.”
●“At least they lived a long life.”
●“You need to be strong.”
●“They’re in a better place.”
●“It’s time to move on.”

Even well-meaning words can hurt. Sometimes the most comforting thing to say is simply: “I’m here with you, and I’m so sorry.”

08/18/2026

13.5 years & the grief still comes in waves 😔

08/18/2026

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I was sitting in my office between sessions today, going over some work and approving a few things for an upcoming post. I clicked on one tied to Annie — my digital intake coordinator named after my mom — and out of nowhere, the tears just started falling. Just from seeing her name.

I sat there asking myself… is this what happens with age? Is loss loosening something in me? Or am I simply more aware of the value of life now?

I don’t have a perfect answer. But I had a moment. And I think some of you might be in that same place.

If you’ve been feeling like things are shifting… like you don’t quite feel like yourself anymore… like something in you is different and you can’t explain it — I want to reassure you. Grief changes you. It shows up in ways you don’t expect, and it doesn’t ask permission first.

I will never be the same. And honestly — I don’t want to be. That season of my life isn’t in the same context anymore. That version of things is gone.

So I live in new life now.

What’s changed in you since your loss? I’d love to hear it in the comments. Your story might help someone else feel less alone.

08/15/2026

Grief doesn’t follow a calendar.

There is no date when you are supposed to stop missing them, stop having hard days, or stop feeling the weight of their absence.

Some days may feel lighter. Other days, one memory, one song, or one moment can bring it all rushing back.

Give yourself permission to grieve at your own pace. There is no expiration date on love and there is no expiration date on grief. 🤍

Hearts ReWritten Good Grief

08/14/2026

Sometimes “happy” returns quietly a genuine laugh, a peaceful morning, enjoying something you used to love, or realizing you made it through a day without feeling completely overwhelmed.

You are allowed to:
•Smile without guilt.
•Make new memories.
•Enjoy your life again.
•Have good days and still grieve.
•Carry love for who you lost while continuing to live.

Finding your happy isn’t forgetting. It’s learning how to live while carrying love and loss together.

08/08/2026

Looking at pictures of someone you love who has died does not automatically mean you are setting yourself back in grief.

In fact, remembering through photographs can be a healthy way of maintaining an emotional connection with the person who died sometimes called a continuing bond.

What can be confusing is that a photo can suddenly make the grief feel fresh again. You might have been doing fairly well and then see their face, remember their voice, or think about a particular moment and begin crying.

Grief commonly comes in waves, and reminders can bring strong feelings back without erasing the healing that has already taken place.

There is also no requirement that you force yourself to look at pictures. Some days they may bring comfort; other days they may be too painful. Both responses are normal.

Bereavement organizations actually suggest photographs, memory boxes, collages, and other keepsakes as ways some people find meaningful connection and remembrance.

08/04/2026

Grief taxes your attention and working memory. Your brain is using a lot of energy processing the loss, scanning for reminders, managing strong emotions, and adapting to a changed reality. That leaves less mental capacity for ordinary things like remembering why you entered a room, where you put your keys, or what someone just said.

08/01/2026

Funny thing...

A lady told me today, "You've gained a lot of weight."

I smiled and said, "Yes, I have."

I lost my job.
I went almost a year with no income.
I lost my mom.
I've walked through grief, uncertainty, and stress.

But here's one thing I can say...
I never missed a meal.

Life has a way of changing us sometimes emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Before judging someone's appearance, remember: you may have no idea what they've survived just to keep going.

I'm still here.
Still standing.
Still trusting God.
And for that, I'm grateful.