Over the years, I have had many deep, thoughtful conversations with people about how we have grown through experiences of profound loss. Most of these exchanges have been somewhat difficult. That one has experienced personal growth out of tragedy can…
Grief changes everything. It shifts the rhythm of a family, the meaning of ordinary moments, and the way the world feels when you wake up each morning. For parents, grandparents, and siblings who have experienced the death of a child,…
Grief is often described in hushed tones, as if it were a foreign country people hesitate to visit. But for those of us who have lost a child, spouse, or loved one, grief is not foreign—it becomes the very air…
Over the first six months of my tenure as CEO of The Compassionate Friends, I have had the honor of connecting with so many of our TCF leaders, volunteers, members, and friends. These interactions have reminded me that even in…
“I think I have had the wrong destination in mind.” These words have stayed with me for many years. They were spoken by a mom who trusted me with her story of profound loss, nine years after the death of…
As I write, grief blankets Maui in the aftermath of the unimaginable devastation wrought by the August 8, 2023, fires in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui. I still cannot wrap my mind around the enormity of what transpired—thousands of residents have…
Often in our support group meetings, I have shared that one day our pain grows softer, and as I look around the circle of new or fairly new attendees, I see the looks of absolute disbelief on their faces. I…
The COVID virus gave us a new condition known as Long-haul COVID. Although the virus may be long gone, the person is left with persistent symptoms from the disease. These unlucky individuals are now being called “long-haulers.” Having just passed…
There was a time when grief lived mostly behind closed doors. News of a death traveled by phone calls, handwritten letters, and quiet conversations. Mourning happened in living rooms, places of worship, cemeteries, and support groups. Grief was shared with…
Someone once said that grief lacks a language. It is difficult to give words to this life altering, devasting, and complex experience. To further complicate things, many of the societal constructs for understanding grief do not adequately reflect the experience…
