My Facebook feed is filled with friends mourning the death of parents.
Of a spouse. A parent, sibling, cousin. A friend.
Grief, my friends, is universal. Loss is something we all go through in one form or another. And it’s hard.
It’s a hard walk
Almost two years. That’s how long my walk through grieving my mother lasted. A long time. Actually, I’m still walking, 20 years later. But it’s not as hard as it was at first.
When I lost Riley, the grief was as painful, and maybe more so because it was unexpected. I really didn’t think I’d make it out of grief. And then, I had a profound spiritual experience and came out in a quite different place.
But that wasn’t what happened with my grandfather’s death, some 40 years ago. Many days I’d pull the car over so I could cry. It went on and on.
Everyone walks through grief a different way. It depends on so many variables and “one size” doesn’t fit all.
It’s good to vent
One thing that helps, though, is to get our feelings out. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I can see my loved ones’ eyes glazing over if they think I’ve talked about my loss enough. Yes, that happens. People do think we should “get over it” and usually before we’re ready to “get over it.” That’s why I developed my Guided Journal Through Grief.
Each page has a prompt to help you express how you feel about your loss. It’s a safe place to vent. And if you don’t like to write you can paint, draw or even make a little collage. Here’s one of the questions:
Many other questions help you process your grief. There are also ideas for rituals, mini-meditations and other activities.
If you or someone you love is grieving, this could very well be a comfort and will certainly be of help. The journal is available alone or as part of a condolence gift package. All products are budget-friendly. See all my grief products and services here.
Stacie says
May 31, 2018 at 2:19 pmI love this. Journaling is an excellent way to work through grief. I’ve journaled my way through several tough losses.
mj says
May 31, 2018 at 2:43 pmWhat a wonderful idea for those struggling with their feelings. Greif can be overwhelming or liberating. Confronting those feelings is the first step.
Bill Sweeney says
May 31, 2018 at 3:40 pmYour journal sounds like a great way to help others grieve the loss of a loved one. We all deal with loss in our own way.
Heather says
May 31, 2018 at 7:07 pmGrief is the worst thing. I’m still not over losing my Papa, who passed away over 13 years ago. I try to talk about our passed loved ones and keep their memory alive.
Heather recently posted…These are Not Your Grandma’s Shoes
Heather says
May 31, 2018 at 7:11 pmThis is a wonderful journal. I think its harder to go through than many people think. Anyone who thinks you simply need to get over it…has never been through it. Their thoughts on that would surely change with experience. This post is going to help so many people.
Emily says
May 31, 2018 at 8:07 pmI think keeping a journal is a great way to get through loss. There is such a great way to be brutally honest with all feelings when writing things down. I am so sorry you have had this loss in your life, but am happy to hear you have had experiences to help you work through it.
Rose Ann Sales says
June 1, 2018 at 2:50 amThis is such a great post and it is very useful most especially to the someone who have experienced this kind of feeling and I am sure journaling is one of the best way to easy the pain of loosing someone. This is such a great help thanks for sharing this with us.
Bradley C Finnearty says
June 1, 2018 at 9:42 amOur mother had cancer and it took 6 months for her to pass. To watch your mother go through that when she would have done anything to stop your pain is something that is extremely painful.
Though the pain is mostly gone 18 years later I still think about her every day.
Colleen says
June 1, 2018 at 10:28 amThis sounds like an excellent tool for working through grief. I’ve found that journaling helps get emotions out without having to talk about them at times when that would be just too much.
Melissa Chapman says
June 1, 2018 at 10:36 amWriting things down is a great way to express your grief and take the first steps to move on. I lost my parents and would have liked to have handled that loss better.
Makeba Giles says
June 1, 2018 at 11:10 amI feel writing down your thoughts in a journal will help ease the pain of loss. This is a great idea.
Melanie says
June 1, 2018 at 12:48 pmWe lost my nephew to childhood leukemia very quickly. The grief remains, allow it’s easier to bear each day. Your products would have been perfect for my sister, especially during those first months. It’s hard to know what to do for someone when they are grieving.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
June 1, 2018 at 7:09 pmI lost my grandmother recently and my whole family is grieving. Loss is something that stays with you always.
Marysa says
June 1, 2018 at 7:14 pmGrief is a tough thing, and it is different in different stages of life, if that makes sense. It is good to have a variety of ways to cope with grief. I lost my mom in my early 20’s and I still struggle with it.
Theresa says
June 1, 2018 at 7:58 pmJournaling is an excellent way to help work through grief after the loss of a loved one. It really helped me after my dad passed away. You are right. It’s not a one size fits all. We all need to take as much time as we need to process grief on our own terms.
Brianne says
June 2, 2018 at 6:19 amDealing with death and grief is such a hard thing to do. But you are right talking about it helps so much!
Catalina says
June 2, 2018 at 12:12 pmI think it is so hard to pass over a grief. Your advices are so useful and will help anyone in this situation!
Barbara Radisavljevic says
June 4, 2018 at 2:51 pmI have lost too many people I love — both parents, both children, and two very close friends. Writing helped me through my grief each time. We never get over our losses, but eventually the sharp edge that always cuts goes away with only an occasional reappearance.
Rachael stray says
June 13, 2018 at 7:12 amGrief has a sneaky way of creeping up on you when you least expect it to as well. Journaling sounds like a great tool to help you cope.
Monica Matthews, aka Scholarship Mom says
June 13, 2018 at 5:41 pmYour products are so unique and compassionate. Thank you for all you do. ❤
Lorna says
June 14, 2018 at 4:13 amI lost my grandparents when I was 15, 16, 19, and 20. I still grieve for them. It isn’t an issue I have, it’s just part of who I am. I journal and I write, and I write, and in a way everything I write is for them.
Thank you for this thoughtful space, Carol.
Lorna recently posted…Listen To Me Anyway
Liv says
June 14, 2018 at 6:44 pmGrief is hard. It’s a normal part of life – and yet it’s one of the most difficult.
Jennifer says
June 15, 2018 at 6:26 amI think your condolence gift package is the perfect gift to give in a time of loss. I gave it to a friend when her daughter died unexpectedly. She had been thinking of getting a journal and said it came at the perfect time. She put the grief card set on her mantel to share with others.
Jennifer recently posted…How You Can Learn New Things
Ellen says
July 10, 2018 at 7:34 pmCarol, your journal sounds so helpful for someone amidst grief. Like you said, each person is different and journaling can certainly help some move through the grieving process.
Lee Gaitan says
November 13, 2018 at 10:55 amThe journal is so helpful because, as you said, even our closest and most supportive friends sometimes reach their limit with listening to us–especially if they have not suffered a similar loss. We still need a safe place to go to express and examine our feelings and your journal is a beautiful one. Boy, I relate to pulling off the road to cry, too!
Flossie McCowald says
November 13, 2018 at 1:45 pmMy father has been gone almost two decades now. My mother and I keep his memory alive in our hearts, and often in our conversations, and especially for my children (who never met him). People ask sometimes when she’s “just going to get over him already.” But that’s not how it works, at least for us.