February 2, 2024

Hello friends,

Today’s prompt is perhaps a heavy one, but I find it useful to think about, because grief can be one of the most isolating experiences you ever have. Part of my goal for today’s prompt is to let go of some of the isolation of grief, if not actively for ourselves, then for those in our life who may currently be grieving.

Last year around this time, three people had died and I struggled to feel my own grief and to know how to engage with the grief of those around me.

This year, my grief is more communal and political. Recently, I went to a poetry reading that raised funds for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund at which one of my friends was reading. The room was full of grief, but it was also full of compassion and hope and even humor. I cried for a large part of that night, but ultimately, it taught me again how grief makes me want to hide and self-isolate, when what I need is to be in community.

That is true for private grief just as much, if not more so, than collective grief. I feel strongly and deeply, perhaps more than is good for me sometimes and I struggle to not take on emotions that aren’t mine. This can be especially challenging when they are difficult emotions, like anger or grief. Something I’ve been working on this year is how to hold space, for my difficult emotions, for those of the people I care about, and for my community as a whole. I’m getting better at holding that space without being in active distress, but while still experiencing the emotion instead of feeling numb or disassociating. I think that the space I’ve dedicated to reflection through these prompts is part of what is teaching me that skill and so is being in community with others who care for me as much as I care for them.

Take 5-15 minutes and write about

How do you grieve?

I hope reflecting on grief and loss makes the process a bit easier to bear and helps you find healing and comfort. I hope it helps you process the anger that often accompanies grief. I hope it helps you remember your loved ones with joy. I also hope that reflecting on how you grieve also helps you connect with those around you who are experiencing grief, so that you can support them and hold space for them without taking on emotions that aren’t yours.

Your friend,
Laura