 |
| Performing my monologue at Miss Milwaukee about grief |
Today is National Grief Awareness Day.
I was completely unaware until a friend of mine posted about it on social media. Oh, how Instagram works these days. As I thought about creating a post for this "holiday" I reread the quote my friend had posted on Instagram. It said, and I quote:
"Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim." - Vicki Harrison
Now, this quote hits me in all the right places, as I have previously written and performed a monologue in the Miss America Organization about how grief comes like a wave. You can sometimes see it coming in full force or hear it gathering together. And sometimes it sneaks up on you with no warning. Over time one recognizes the so-called triggers that they know could bring a wave of grief rolling in. Other times those triggers are nice memories that serve you in the ways of remembering.
When grief was fresh and new to me, I mean let's be honest it still is, I remember wondering what grief really is. I remember feeling like I had to act one way or be a certain way because I was grieving. For quite a long time I felt I could not laugh or smile because I was supposed to be sad. After processing in my grief for a while, I realized that grief isn't something that can have a one-way route. Grief can look like tons of things, there is no one set of rules that says grief is to look one way. Everyone is on their own timeline with grief, do not feel rushed nor rush anyone else.
All in all, grief is the road you take every day when you lose a loved one. Even after seven years, I am still on this road. No, I will not "get over it" or "move on because it has been seven years" my dad is still my dad even though he is no longer here. With all that said, I have very good days with my walk and some very bad days. My walk is my own and no two grief stories looking the same.
Today is about bringing awareness of how grief is a never-ending road and do not forget people are still suffering from loss. To you I give my favorite grief quote:
"Grief never ends... But it changes. It's a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor a lack of faith... It is the price of love." -- Unknown Author
