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Image Source: Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels . As the second anniversary of my mom’s passing came and went, I ended the day feeling...

Photo from Tofros.com "Is it crazy of me to not delete my Mom's phone number by now?" "My relative is telling me that I shouldn't be messaging my Dad anymore, but I feel like it helps me. What should I do?" "I still pay for my parent's phone, but people are telling me that I'm not moving on with my life. Should I stop paying for it? It's not a cost issue." These are questions I’ve seen asked often in online grief groups. Many people feel pressured to delete their loved one’s

Image Source: Pexels on Pixabay.com I don’t remember much from my childhood, or even from just five years ago. My memories tend to come in fragments: a few specific events or a vague, generalized feeling that sums up an entire period of my life, usually defined by schools or jobs. What makes my memory even more peculiar is how I often recall things in the third person, as though I’m watching someone else’s life unfold. It’s strange, almost as if those memories don’t truly bel

Mr. Milo; 2023 This post is inspired by a personal experience I had recently, and I realize it may not resonate with everyone, and that's okay. To those who have faced the heartbreaking loss of a beloved pet, especially after losing a loved one, my heart goes out to you. I can’t begin to imagine the depth of your pain, but I hope that what I share here offers some comfort, even in a small way. If it doesn’t, please know I understand, and I am truly sorry. Like so many others,

Image Source:  Bella H. on Pixabay.com When we brought my mom and her urn home, I would often wait until late at night to go downstairs and speak to her. I would fight sleep or nearly fall asleep while talking to her. I felt the need to do this privately, when no one was around, because I worried that if others knew, they would think I had "lost it" or hadn’t accepted my mom’s passing. But over time, I learned that this behavior is an example of "continuing bonds." And in rea

Image Source: Nothing Ahead on Pexels I read early on that relationships often change after losing a parent or any loved one. I quickly noticed a sense of clarity about certain situations and found myself lacking the energy for specific people or circumstances. I was also deeply disappointed by some individuals I had expected to support me, as they were barely present or absent altogether. On the other hand, I received incredible support from people I hadn’t anticipated, and

Image Source: Lludmila Chernetska on iStockPhoto Another phrase I often see in online grief forums that can be irritating is "lost the battle." Many people who have lost loved ones to cancer find this phrase upsetting because it implies that their loved one wasn’t strong enough to beat it or that they gave up fighting. Neither of which is typically true. Having lost my mom to cancer, I completely understand why people dislike the phrase "lost the battle." I’m not a fan of it

Image Source: Augustas P on Pexels After the loss of a loved one, it can take time to shift from speaking in the present tense to the past. Sometimes, the present tense slips out, triggering a fresh wave of grief. It can even be embarrassing if someone gives you a concerned look, but please don’t feel embarrassed. In my opinion, there’s no need to change everything to the past tense. There’s no rule that says once someone passes away, you have to alter everything about them