What Healing Is, Looks Like, and How to Heal From Grief

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 doing the best I can. Some days better than others.

Here are some highlights from 2025.

• Completed a 12-week Uncluttered course with Becoming Minimalist, Joshua Becker

• Continued facilitating a monthly in-person local support group for bereaved moms (“Just Hold On”) with about 7-9 regularly attending

• Started co-facilitating a virtual support group for bereaved moms through Starlight Ministries

• Went on a trip to Luella’s Lodge in Illinois with my Standing in the Gap Moms

• Went to Wisconsin with my Rockstar Moms

• Attended an in-person gathering for a few days in Wisconsin with Alive Alone members, parents who’ve lost their only child

• Continued with my eating and exercise habits and maintained a 40-45 lb weight loss.

• Continued going to my HIIT gym 3 days a week

• Attended TobyMac Hits Deep concert with Corban’s sister, Annabelle (a concert Corban loved and I used to go to)

• Started going to the dentist again and caring for my dental health (had not done that since before Corban died)

• Attempted to dip my feet in the dating world again, first time trying as a grieving mom. It’s hard.

• Completed a 7-week Bible/book study with the book, “Heaven: When Faith Becomes Sight” by Jennifer Rothschild

• Survived the difficult 5-year mark of Corban’s Heaven-going on July 4th

• Started to read the Bible in one year with the Bible Recap plan. Only got to about 7 months, though, and was too far behind; I did not finish. Disappointed, but starting at all is a win.

• Honored Corban’s 24th birthday by paying it forward with 24 birthday cards with $24 in them to strangers

• Did my best to be a support for other family and friends struggling while carrying my own grief every day

• Attended my first Bereaved Parents of the USA Conference in Pittsburgh

• Wrote an essay of my grief story to be part of an upcoming book about grief

• Honored Corban by gifting Making Movie Memories to 30 families, totaling 96 people, for the holidays

• -New friendships with bereaved parents

• And it goes without saying… all these things while loving, grieving, missing, and carrying my boy with me.

  
  

And it goes without saying. All these accomplishments while loving, grieving, missing, and carrying my boy with me.