Grief's Uncharted Path
Journal Entry: "Sometimes grief is just a rock I carry. Other times, it’s a crushing boulder on my chest, and I can’t breathe—while the world around me expects me to solve complex mathematical equations like I’m not already drowning." Anniversary days—like my son’s death date or his birthday—tear open emotions I’ve learned to bury just enough to function. Christmas still knocks the wind out of me. A few days before Jonah’s death date— March 28th —I sat across from my therapist and asked: "Do we ever heal from this?" She paused. Then said she didn’t know. That healing wasn’t a destination—it was learning to live a full life with healthy practices and coping strategies. "I live a functional life," I told her. "I have purpose, I serve, I succeed—I don’t let it stop me—but I don’t think it will ever not hurt." We talked about how grief anniversaries can feel like old wounds ripping open. "What’s your resistance to the date?" she asked. I t...
