One of the hardest parts of grief is the forgetting. Forgetting the memories you shared with your loved one. Forgetting the small things that now feel like the big things. Forgetting how they would have reacted to something going on in the world. Forgetting the sound of their voice or the wrinkles in their face.
A grief journal can be so helpful and healing. Writing your thoughts helps make sense of what you're feeling in a way that talking to someone one-on-one may not provide. Grief journaling acts as an outlet to express all the emotions that come with grief–happy, sad, confused, angry, and everything in between. Everyone experiences grief in their lives at some point, but processing emotions around a loss can be difficult and overwhelming.
Helping is healing. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned from creating The Grief Journal. It’s healing to help others navigate their grief. That’s what writing did for me. It helped me navigate the toughest time in my life by allowing me a space to express my feelings.
Journaling can be a powerful tool for releasing the weight of your stress and anxiety, allowing you a space to express yourself and feel your emotions. If you’re in need of a mood boost, try these simple, yet effective, writing prompts for your mental health.
Gratitude reminds you of all the ways your life was enriched by your loved one. Gratitude reminds you that without love, there would be no grief. Gratitude reminds you to appreciate the time you had together. Gratitude reminds you that happiness still exists even after a loss. Gratitude reminds you that you can survive your grief. Gratitude reminds you to treat each day as a gift.
The truth is, there are tons of people out there missing their fathers on Father’s Day. Some have also lost their fathers to cancer, some have absent fathers, and some are wishing they could be fathers. If you’re dreading Father’s Day, I want to share some ways to handle the day, especially during a year already overflowing with grief and anxiety.
When my dad passed away, my grandfather Rev. Kenneth H. Simpson, a minister and one of the kindest people I’ve ever known, shared with me an excerpt from his book “Earthly Stories, Heavenly Truths.” He explored the importance of faith especially in times of grief and the compelling reason he has such a strong faith. It gave me a sense of peace reading his words and I wanted to share with others in case they are struggling to find or maintain their faith after a loss. My grandfather has since passed away, but his words still ring true and can hopefully provide you with the same sense of peace they gave me.
Q&A with Pharmacist and Health Coach, Dr. Melody Khorrami, to discuss the benefits of Health Coaching, the relationship between grief and health, and much more.
My mission for The Grief Journal was and still is to create a resource so impactful that people who are suffering no longer feel they have no place to turn. Journaling was a place of solace for me and I believe it can help others through their emotions too. I also believe hearing others’ stories will help those grieving realize they aren’t alone. Please remember, you are not alone.
As a friend or family member of someone going through hardships, I believe there are a few things we can do to ease these burdens for the person experiencing loss. Our initial idea will be to send flowers, but I pose another thought. What if we send something with a little more meaning? Here are some thoughtful gift ideas to cheer someone up after a loss.
