I Promise Mom by Jules Hanhart (EJ Hanhart’s Oldest Daughter) My mom signed my birth certificate; I signed her death certificate. She picked my first outfit, and I chose her last one. She witnessed my first breath. I witnessed her last.  - Anonymous Jules Hanhart is a graduate of Southern Louisiana University and works as a General Manager at Hammond Milan’s Restaurant.  “ T ake care of them, promise me you’ll take care of them,” was the last thing my mother said to me. She w

Fear is a powerful emotion that shapes much of human behavior. It protects us from danger but can also hold us back, especially when it comes to emotional fears. Unlike physical fear, which reacts to immediate threats, emotional fear often lingers, creating stress and anxiety about what might happen. Understanding these fears and learning how to face them can help build resilience and improve our emotional well-being. A winding forest path representing the journey of overcomi

Grief is a journey no one chooses but everyone faces at some point. The hardest part for many who have lost a loved one is that grief remains a silent subject. People often avoid talking about it, leaving those who suffer feeling isolated and misunderstood. Let’s Talk Grief™ breaks this silence by offering a fresh perspective on grief, helping people understand it beyond the tears and pain. This post explores the unique approach of the book and its Healing With Hilling metho

Grief often feels like a heavy, unending shadow that dims every moment of life after losing someone dear. Yet, what if embracing happiness alongside sadness is not only possible but essential for healing? This post explores how grief is not just about sorrow but also about regenerating happiness while honoring the pain. Understanding this balance can help grievers release guilt and find a path toward joy without forgetting their loss. Finding peace by a calm lakeside at suns

Sadness is a natural and essential response to loss, especially after the death of a loved one. It signals a pause, a moment to regroup physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yet, sadness can also trap a person in a confusing, unsettling state where daily life feels suspended and core beliefs are shaken. This state is known as the liminal space, a threshold where old realities have ended but new ones are not yet fully formed. Understanding this space can help grievers move

Grief is a deeply personal experience, yet it often isolates those who suffer. Many avoid discussing grief openly, especially the selfish behaviors it can trigger. This silence has led to divisions within the grief community, separating husbands from wives, parents from siblings, and groups based on the cause of death. This division weakens the support system that grieving individuals desperately need. Understanding how selfishness contributes to this segregation and explorin

Grief is one of the most challenging emotions to navigate, both for those experiencing it firsthand and for those around them. Talking about grief can feel like walking a tightrope—balancing raw emotions with the need for connection and understanding. Many primary grievers express their pain through anger, sadness, frustration, or even resentment. These feelings are natural and part of the healing process. Yet, when these emotions turn into harmful behavior, they can push oth

Grief is one of the most challenging experiences a person can face. When someone loses a loved one, the emotions that follow can be overwhelming—anger, sadness, frustration, and even resentment. These feelings are natural and part of the healing process. Yet, talking about grief, especially with others who may not share the same depth of pain, can be complicated. How do you open up without pushing people away? How do those around a grieving person offer support without feelin

Giving Grievers a Platform and Voice to Talk About Their Grief! If you’d like to be a Guest Blogger, contact me through the “Get In Touch” Form on the Let’s Talk Grief Website and I will send you the essay submission guidelines. I Miss You, Mama, by Eddie Hanhart Eddie is EJ Hanhart’s son and the General Manager at the Gator Country Adventure Park in Beaumont, Texas. His older and younger sisters, Jules and Ellie, also wrote essays. I’ve already posted Ellie’s essay and will

Grief support groups offer a vital space for healing, yet men often attend in far fewer numbers than women. This gap is not just a matter of personal choice but reflects a complex mix of social expectations, group dynamics, and program design. Men’s lower attendance rates in grief support groups can limit their own healing and reduce the support available to others. To change this, both men and grief organizations must take active steps. This article explores why men hesitate

Grief touches everyone, yet the way men experience and express it often goes unrecognized. Despite men making up half the population, grief support groups and organizations see mostly women attending and staffing their programs. This imbalance leaves many men feeling unseen and unsupported during some of their most vulnerable moments. At a recent grief conference, only 19 out of 80 attendees were men, even though the workshop focused on understanding men's unique ways of grie

I find solace in the deep woods. Sitting amongst nature is a peaceful getaway from civilization. It allows me time to reflect on the gifts I have received from God and how fragile they are. It’s also a reminder of the endless cycle of birth, growth, decay, death, and rebirth. Sadly, this walk into the woods was for a different and horrific reason.      As the detective accompanied me into the woods along the pebble trail that led to the tree where Lacie’s body was found, I wo

Grief is a universal experience, yet many people find it difficult to talk about openly. Despite growing awareness of mental health, society still struggles to create spaces where grief can be shared without judgment or fear. One reason lies in how mental health professionals and support groups have unintentionally shaped the way people approach grief. The common rule, “what is said in the room stays in the room,” meant to protect privacy, often ends up isolating individuals

I think my grief journey started on some level at the beginning of Corban’s life with my divorce. My life was turned upside down. Everything I had known for the last 10 years was torn apart. But there was this new life, the sunshine I needed. I had no idea what I was doing or what would become of my life, but I just knew that my son was my everything and I would do the very best I could for him, be the best mom I could. I hated sharing him then, being a split family. That was

Losing a spouse or child changes a family forever. The way family members relate to each other shifts, just as it does when a new child joins the family. The difference is the pain and grief that come with loss. Each person grieves in their own way, often without sharing those feelings with others. This creates distance and confusion in family relationships. Understanding how family dynamics change after a death can help families rebuild stronger connections and support each

It was a normal Memorial Day on Monday, May 27, 2024, until I received a phone call at 5 pm while shopping at Trader Joe’s with my wife, Stacey. Stacey wasn’t beside me when I answered my phone because we decided to split up to save time. When I first heard my phone ring, I thought it might be one of our children, since we had been waiting to hear what they did to celebrate the holiday weekend.  The screen on my Apple Watch read, "It's a call from our son, Jordan." I walked o

A griever who lost a spouse or child loses more than just that person. He or she experiences a list of other losses. Grief also feels like you’re losing a part of yourself, your identity, faith, motivation, joy, energy, sleep, income, trust, friends, and hope. This culmination of grief makes you feel broken. Your life has been shattered into several broken pieces, and you can’t find a way to put yourself back together again so you can continue with your life. For example, if

Embrace Grief As An Ally by EJ Hanhart Grief doesn’t have to hold you back and ruin your life. Take grief and channel it in a positive way and integrate it into your life as an ally - EJ Hanhart The moment you turn grief into an ally and begin taking more from grief than it takes from you is the moment you begin to heal and move forward with life.  - Hogan Hilling I read that grief, loss, and death are like animals that attack you and leave you to face them alone,   over and

Grief is often linked to death, but many people experience deep loss without someone dying. These losses can shake our sense of security, identity, and hope. Recognizing grief in these situations helps us understand our feelings and find ways to heal. This post shares real stories of grief that go beyond death, showing how loss takes many forms and how people cope with it. A quiet room symbolizing solitude and reflection Grieving the Loss of a Loved One to Addiction Jeff’s st

Grief is often seen as a response to death, but this narrow view misses the full picture. People experience grief in many forms every day, and these losses can be just as painful and life-changing as losing a loved one. From the end of a marriage to losing a job or facing a serious illness, grief touches many parts of our lives. Recognizing these different types of grief helps us understand ourselves and others better, and supports healing in ways that go beyond tears. An emp