Year 2 Grief Reflections

Thankful for my therapist and her transparency. I’m so glad she looks like me

Learning to release the things that I cannot control and forgive myself

Compassion is necessary

Grief is love

I am slowly expanding my definition of family

I continue to miss my Daddy and Mommy daily

There is power in community

My grief needs space

My parents continue to show up in my dreams

Extend grace to those who cannot relate to my grief

Self-love, self-care, self-compassion, self-full, self-soothe

Breath work has been life saving

Being a plant Mom helps me continue to tend my babies and myself d a i l y

Happy tears, sad tears- both are cleansing

My body needs to move grief out

Grief manifests physically in my body so I listen to what it needs

Finding ways to sooth my pain is necessary in my healing

I thank myself and celebrate my wins

My parents show up in my dreams to remind me to live

I have added to my grief tattoos- totaling to 5 now

Normalize making space for grief

I thank my parents for teaching me to be a strong self-advocate

I know my parents are with me each and everyday

If I push you away in my grief, please don’t stop trying

I thank everyone in my life who has showed up for me especially during the past 2 years

Sitting with my feelings takes courage and it is scary

I am a work in progress

My grief journey will never end

I like reciting my affirmations in the mirror

I am continuing to amplify my voice by normalizing conversations around grief and loss

Massages are essential

Reading is forever my safe haven

My heart is broken but does not mean I have to stop living my life

I will honor my parents by continuing to live my life

Grief brain is real

I find myself feeling guilty or like I am “moving on”

I will never return my old self

Grief reminds me of the waves of the ocean

I am thinking about getting a grief/emotional support puppy

I pick the hair out of my eyebrows and eyelashes with my anxiety

I have yet to purchase my parents headstone in NY

It is OK to ask for help but it also feels foreign

As a former D1 sprinter, I give myself permission to move my body in different ways

My appetite comes and goes

I love buying myself flowers

My perspective of death has shifted to being a beautiful part of the human cycle instead of something that snatches away your loved ones

Crying in the shower is therapeutic

Recreating some of my parents favorite dishes brings me comfort

Grief has no timetable or rulebook

Leaning into my healing journey

Grief doesn’t look like any one way

Brain dumping keeps me thoughts flowing

I write monthly goals that keep me busy throughout the day

I hold conversations with my parents by speaking out loud to them

Setting boundaries have been helpful

It is difficult to distinguish when my stomach is hungry or in pain from nausea

I still miss my good morning and good night texts with my parents

I’ll never stop saying my parents name

There are many days where I don’t talk at all

It’s OK to take a break from grief work

Happiness and sadness coexist in grief

Sometimes I am afraid to go to sleep

I isolate myself

I’m more obsessed with pizza now more than ever

My heart aches every morning knowing my parents are no longer here with me

I’m not the person I was last year and that gives me hope

There is a certain loneliness to grief that only brining back your person would fix

I have been angry and upset with God and not talking to Him

My faith has been tested but it remains my anchor

I remember the day you died and all the details

People will forget you’re grieving

It is hard to ask for help

You are the best Girl Dad and supported me in everything I did

I will forever and always be a Daddy's girl, love and miss you

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