Never Stop Loving: Tears and Joy 28 Years Later

Grief can be awesome, beautiful, and holy. It means you've successfully loved so deeply that you now get to grieve this person who has passed. We are often afraid to expose our grief, so we hold back the inner emotions within us. Instead of running from tears, we should allow them to surface. It's natural, healing, and a sign of healthy affections. 

How do you grieve in the best way?

1. Don't put a timeline on it. Don't wrap it in a box and hope it looks a certain way. Grief is very individualized.

2. Relax into grief. Relax into the emotion. Your body can handle this emotion and likely needs to process it. You don't have to react, resist, or push against it. It's not intolerable, so surrender into the feelings grief exposes.

3. Remember that the people around you want to help because they love you. Decide that these people are coming from a place of love. However, they don't know what to do to help unless you tell them. They likely haven't often dealt with this situation either. Tell them what you need and how best to support you.

This experience at the gravesite of Alex's brother was beautiful and sweet as we stood in that cemetery in São Paulo. I'm grateful to be able to sing a teary Happy Birthday in Portuguese with Alex and his parents as they reflected on their love. Their love and grief were palpable even 28 years later, and remarkably, sadness once felt turned to joy. 

If you need help with grieving for a loved one you're missing or with something else in your life, please reach out.

Take Care,

Melinda

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