Helping is Healing

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.

After I launched the grief journal, I began following grief experts from therapists to grief social media influencers to celebrities who had experienced great losses. I quickly learned the various ways each of these individuals chose to turn their pain into purpose. Singers who wrote songs about loss. Therapists who helped grievers navigate their grief. Writers who wrote books to teach others what they had learned about grief. So many different outlets yet each had found their own way to help others heal after a loss. I chose a similar path, creating guided grief journals. But it still didn’t feel like enough.

On a daily basis, I’m asked questions about navigating grief and I can only speak from my personal experience. I wanted to do more. Know more. That’s when I found a grief educator training course with David Kessler, one of the leading experts on grief. Not only has David written numerous bestselling books on grief, he knows firsthand what it feels like to experience grief on a deep level. He understands it from the perspective of a parent who has lost a child, a son who has lost a mother, and a student who has survived a school shooting. He has dedicated his life to teaching others about the topic of grief, so I figured if I want to be knowledgeable in the field of grief, who better to learn from?

That’s when I began my 12-week journey towards becoming a Certified Grief Educator. Little did I know, I’d gain far more than a title out of this experience. I certainly learned about the history of grief, different types of grief, how to talk to folks in grief, and all of the other topics you’d expect to learn in a grief course, but I learned so much more.

• I learned my grief matters and to keep sharing my story with the world.
• I learned that people want to hear what I have to say.
• I learned we all have a story to tell.
• I learned we all have tragedies in our lives.
• I learned I don’t need to be an expert to help others.
• I learned there are so many kind people in the world willing to lend a helping hand.
• I learned self-care is not selfish.
• I learned helping is healing.

I learned so many lessons that I want to share with you all because frankly these lessons are true for us all. I hope you know someone out there cares and that your story matters. Your grief matters. Please continue to share stories of your loved ones with the world and remember, helping is healing.

Love,

Stephanie – Your Certified Grief Educator, committed to lifelong learning in order to serve others who are grieving