THE GRIEF TREE

Since losing my dad in 2020, I’ve been amazed at how many secondary losses I’ve experienced (sometimes daily, still). I call these the “branches” on my “grief tree.” For example, when my son says something especially witty, and I reach for the phone to tell him…and realize I can’t. Or when I see a father teaching his daughter how to ride a bike…and my heart splits open all over again and all I want is to hug mine. Hard.

When we lose someone we love deeply, everything changes. Sometimes you have to figure out how to hold space for grief and joy simultaneously—and in doing so, you discover things about yourself you may have never thought possible.

The Grief Tree is a Substack series I’ve launched where I interview someone who has experienced profound loss, and ask them how they navigate the every day—forming a “new normal,” when all they really want to do is pick up the phone and call their person. If you’s like to share your story, fill out the form below! I’d be honored to learn about your journey.