Facing our grief

There are times when hiding from our grief is needed, in fact, it may be life saving. Repeating this pattern over time can become a become an even bigger challenge. Avoidance is natural, just to get through day to day life, including our jobs, parenting, being a partner, being a friend and daughter. Leaning into the grief can be scary and unnerving. But leaning into the work of the grief is also liberating. It can be very freeing once you get through the part that feels terrifying.

That’s the thing about grief that can be so transformative, it has the power to release us from fear of feeling. So many of us fear our feelings, all of them. The good ones and the bad. After the death of a mother, joy can feel elusive, even guilt-inducing. Leaning into these feelings, both the joy and the sadness, can feel so freeing.

There are so many amazing women doing the hard work of grieving enormous losses. There are so many amazing women doing the hard work of leaning into their feelings - through art therapy, journaling, seeing a therapist, painting, writing, through faith, connecting with family and community.

Connecting in with our grief, even if it’s been so many years, can be the path back. It can be the path through. Going back to the grief can be the way forward.