Grief Isn’t Meant to Be Hidden
I read this line in a book today, and it hit home for me:
“Some people think hiding their grief will make it go away, but in my experience, it only makes it hurt more. Grief is only ever yours; it’s not something you can share.”
It had me thinking…
So many people believe that if they just keep their grief tucked away— out of sight, out of conversation— it’ll eventually disappear. But in my experience, the opposite happens. It becomes heavier. It shows up in unexpected ways and at the worst possible times. It doesn’t dissolve when we ignore it. It lingers, It festers. It complicates.
Grief is also one of the most personal things we go through. Even when you’re not surrounded by support, no one else can truly feel your grief. No one can sit inside your exact memories, your bond, your loss. And while people can support you— hold space, listen, love you through it— they can’t carry it for you.
It’s exactly why I feel so strongly about the community we’re building here. We live in a society that expects us to be okay all the time. To keep smiling, stay positive, and find the silver lining.
But grief doesn’t always work like that.
It’s messy. Raw. Unpredictable. And sometimes the most healing thing we can do is just tell the truth about how much it hurts.
Even though no one can carry your grief for you, I do believe there’s something powerful about expressing it. When you share your story— your anxieties, your heartbreak, your happy memories— you give someone else permission to feel less alone. That’s not small. That’s not insignificant. It creates a ripple. A domino effect.
I get inspired by our community every day. They give me ideas for how to honor Jasper. They help me reframe my thinking. They remind me it’s okay to feel all the things. They make me want to keep showing up.
It’s not always easy to be vulnerable. Sometimes if feels like the last thing we want to do. But our voice— our truth— might be the thing that helps someone else take their next breath, or make it through the day.
I am thankful for this community. For everyone that is present, that shows up, and that is brave enough to grieve out loud.
It’s not easy. But it is something to be proud of.