Michelle Ferris provides a good example of how to journal and keep a record of one’s progress, which she posted on her Facebook Page. Michelle Ferris’ Accomplishments In 2025 Looking back on another year gone by in this life while grieving, I can see growth. This isn’t to say look at me and what I did, but for me to see that there is purpose and beauty from these grief ashes. And maybe it can serve as an encouragement to others. I am still living, and while I’m here, I’m doin

Grief is a powerful force that can overwhelm us, making it hard to see beyond the pain of loss. Yet healing is possible, and it begins the moment you start taking more from grief than it takes from you. This shift marks the start of moving forward, rebuilding life, and finding new meaning. Healing does not mean forgetting or erasing loss. Instead, it means learning to carry sorrow alongside renewed life, transforming grief into wisdom, and growing around the loss. This post e

Grief touches millions of lives every day, yet support systems often fall short of reaching those who need help most. In the United States, approximately 8,000 people die daily, leaving countless individuals to navigate the difficult journey of loss. Despite this, traditional grief support groups see very low attendance, often less than 1% of those grieving. This gap highlights a pressing need for new approaches that better address the realities of grief. The recent collabora

After my husband, Stephen, passed away on July 31, 2024, I thought and assumed I’d have a handle on my grief and rebuild a new life without him. But I was wrong and surprised at how disoriented I felt in dealing with the grief. I was surprised by how vulnerable I now felt in the world without my loving partner and hero. I quickly realized that nothing could have prepared me for the grief that followed Stephen’s death. None of the small griefs I experienced in my life prepared

The loss of a loved one brings a pain that feels overwhelming and endless. Many who grieve believe that their love must be measured by the depth of their pain. This belief often traps them in a cycle of suffering, where feeling constant sorrow becomes a way to honor the person they lost. Yet, this connection between love and pain can lead to survivor’s guilt and a sense that happiness is somehow wrong or disrespectful. The truth is, while pain is a natural response to loss, s

At the Family Academy’s National Empowered & Resilient Families Conference in Houston, Texas, earlier this month I had the pleasure and honor of meeting an amazing and remarkable man, husband, and father, Jamar Gailes. Gailes is a decorated Lieutenant Colonel and 28-year military veteran, a Bronze Star recipient, and a senior federal leader currently serving in a national leadership role at the Centers for Disease Control. Jamar lost his wife, Jennifer Kirk Gailes, on April 1

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

Grief is a powerful and often overwhelming experience. Alongside the sorrow of loss, it brings a host of fears that can make healing feel impossible. These fears can trap you in a cycle of anxiety and hesitation, preventing you from moving forward. Understanding these fears and learning how to face them is a crucial step toward finding peace and rebuilding your life. Calm lakeside at dawn symbolizing peace and healing The Common Fears That Accompany Grief Grief stirs up many

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