When Grief Lingers: Letting Life Back In

Grief doesn’t follow a schedule.

It doesn’t politely disappear after the funeral, or fade neatly once the cards stop arriving. It lingers, sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly, long after we've said our goodbyes. For many, grief becomes a companion of sorts. Not one we invited, but one we learn to live with.

I often speak with families weeks or months after a ceremony, and one thing I hear time and again is, “I thought I’d be doing better by now.” There’s no such thing as “should” when it comes to grief. It comes in waves, in unexpected moments, in memories that surprise you while doing something as ordinary as folding laundry.

But here’s what I’ve also learned from both personal experience and through the stories people share with me.

Letting new people and experiences in doesn't erase grief.
It helps carry it.

Whether it’s reconnecting with friends, finding a local group, volunteering, joining a class, or simply saying yes to something you’d normally avoid, these little acts of openness can gently help life seep back in.

They don’t replace what was lost. Nothing can.
But they can bring a moment of light. A shift in the weight. A reminder that while someone you love may be gone, you are still here.

Still living.
Still growing.
Still worthy of laughter, connection, and joy, even in the shadow of loss.

So if you’re deep in grief right now, or somewhere in the messy middle of it, know this: it’s okay to feel it all.
And when you're ready, even just a little, it’s also okay to open a new door.

Not to forget.
But to keep going.

With love,