We don’t forget our loved ones, and we don’t leave them behind. Instead, we find ways to continue our bond with them. I still talk to Shayna. I still feel her presence in moments of joy and sorrow. I still honor her in my daily life. That’s not being stuck in grief—it’s embracing a new relationship with her. In my work with grieving parents, I’ve seen this same truth play out in countless ways. Some feel their children in dreams, some receive signs, some find purpose in sharing their stories. No two grief journeys look the same, and that’s exactly how it should be. The idea that we must follow a predictable process or timeline is a myth that only adds unnecessary pressure. So if someone tells you it’s time to “move on,” remind them that love never dies, and neither do the connections we hold in our hearts. Instead of moving on, we move forward—with grief as part of our story, but not the entirety of it. Grief isn’t about forgetting. It’s about remembering in a way that allows us to keep living. It’s about learning to hold sorrow and joy in the same heart. It’s about carrying our loved ones with us in a new way, one that doesn’t require letting go but instead invites us to walk forward together, just differently than before. If you are grieving, be gentle with yourself. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Wherever you are, however you feel, you are exactly where you need to be. And that is enough.
Brian Smith Life Coach, Mental Fitness Trainer, Grief Educator, Podcast Host, Author Grief2Growth.com
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