Finding Community in Grief

I saw a quote recently that said, “Grief is a very long journey, a journey you take on your own. And no one can know all the sorrow you feel for it is your sorrow alone.”

Lately the feeling of being alone on this journey has come to fruition for me. As a year of grief ends, many people start to forget that the aftermath of grief lasts longer for those who suffer from its wrath.

I noticed myself withdrawing from people, because I feel that to them, I should no longer be feeling sad. I need to move on from the losses I experienced over the past year. I feel better overall, but it does not negate the daily crying or the fact that everyday I feel the stress of single motherhood on my shoulders.

My journey is a road I tend to walk alone, because most people in my life have not felt the same loss, and for that I am thankful, because I hope no one will feel the same way as me anytime soon.

This week after a few months of isolation and feeling misunderstood, I decided to finally join an online membership group for young widows. I wanted to find friends that understood my struggles and have a safe place to ask questions and share my highs and lows.

I do not want to walk this journey alone and I also do want to be able to enjoy my friends who are not grieving without them needing to be my sounding board for something they do not understand. I do not want them to feel obligated to sit with me and my sadness all the time. I want to talk about normal life topics when I spend time together with people.

I will continue to share my journey with the world as I navigate grief for those who are interested in learning and reading my thoughts, but today I feel peace knowing that there is a network of women who I can share my hardest days with, who also have experienced the same type of loss.

Grief is not my entire life, but it is a big part of it unfortunately and I am not ashamed of feeling all its emotions. And I want to share to help others understand and support those who are grieving to not feel alone.

So, if you have stumbled upon this post and are a young widow, know that I understand your struggle and I am here if you need a friend. Or if you are navigating any type of grief I know the stages and I have felt them wholeheartedly.