One of the hardest parts of grief is this: just when you think you're doing okay… a wave comes. A song. A scent. A memory. A date on the calendar. Suddenly the grief you thought had softened comes rushing back, and you find yourself wondering, Why does it still hurt this much? If this has happened to you, please know something important: this is not a setback. This is how grief works. It's part of the journey. One of the most confusing things about grief is that it rarely mov

When we think of grief, the first emotion that often comes to mind is sadness. And while sadness is certainly part of the journey, it is far from the whole picture. Grief is not a single note—it is a symphony of emotions, layered and complex, rising and falling in ways that can take us by surprise.