My grief journey began on January 9, 2011 when I suddenly and tragically lost my identical twin sister. The tragedy made front headlines and continued to over the years to come (remember this part for later in the post). The first few months were a complete blur. I can recall some significant moments here and […]
Obviously jealousy appears in many different settings and relationships, but here we are going to be talking about jealously and how it pertains to grief. We’ve talked about this before, but here’s a quick reminder. The definition of grief is, “keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.” Grief can be […]
You’re probably expecting me to say, “It’s really hard.” And if you are, then, you’re right. Almost anyone (even a non-griever) can come to the conclusion that the first year is really hard. Really, really hard. It’s awful. And I actually hate saying that because there were some happy times during my first year (for […]
If you’re familiar with Publix then you probably know that their motto is, “Where Shopping is a Pleasure.” And if you don’t know Publix, it’s a grocery store chain in the southeast. It’s known for delicious subs and exceptional customer service. I just have to say, there is no customer service like Publix. I mean […]
I get asked this question a lot. “Were you afraid to have children?” This question is in the past tense because I have children now. And it’s asked because I have experienced, like many of you, sudden, horrific loss. Now, back to the question. “Were you afraid to have children?” Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: […]
Going through a deceased loved one’s clothing is not something people who haven’t grieved really think about. At least I never thought about it before I experienced significant, sudden loss. It’s one of those many, MANY layers that grievers have to peel away. It’s hard. It’s sad. It hurts. It’s not fair. It’s traumatic. My […]
*Note before I begin: this post really relates to anyone grieving. Replace the “sibling” word with the relationship(s) you lost. I hope it resonates with everyone who has experienced loss. So now I can begin. “Do you have any siblings?” This question is asked so often in casual conversations, when first meeting someone, in classrooms […]
Would you be surprised if I told you that the day after the funeral is harder on the griever than the actual funeral itself? Well, it’s true. For me, at least, and I presume most others as well. The day of the funeral is kind of like how grievers feel every day. They want to […]
I went back to college (a different one that was in my hometown) approximately 8 months after I witnessed the death of my identical twin. It was a huge step. If you’ve read my post I Slept on My Parents’ Floor for Months, then you know this was big for me. It was August 2011 […]
It was a few days after I witnessed the death of my identical twin sister when I found myself in the waiting room of a counseling center in my hometown. I had never been to a therapist before so I had no idea what to expect. I sat there in a fog in oversized sweatpants […]
Lemonade Instead 