Every five years or so my life has undergone a major life refocusing and it would appear that I am in the midst of one again. And it awkward and uncomfortable and I’m not quite sure what I am supposed to do next.
All tagged Grief
A little bit of light
If you all are anything like me, you could use a little pick me up right about now. My gift to you this week is a sweet story that comes with the reminder that for some godforsaken reason we have to have darkness before light.
WTF
Just when you thought the news couldn’t possibly get any worse, each day this week outdid the one before. I’ve felt deep sorrow, anger, fear, exhaustion, helplessness, a numbing, and an intense lack of motivation. Anything beyond curling up under a blanket with a screen or a book felt like strenuous effort. What was wrong with me? I couldn’t keep going on like this! And then it finally dawned on me that I was going through active grief.
An ode to joy
Well folks, 2025 has made her presence known. Personally, I reached a level of doom scrolling this week not seen since the spring of 2020. The world feels heavy and overwhelming and it is difficult to determine where to prioritize concern and focus action. And then my friend Tamika, reminded me about the importance of joy and I think you might need this reminder as well.
Life goes on
Last night, while people mourned their loved ones, homes, business, and jobs in LA, Miguel and I went to the theater. It is a weird feeling this hyperconnectivity. We have access to the intimate details of the grief and loss experienced be those in Palestine, Ukraine, or LA. Yet unless it is in our community, where we can see it, smell it, and directly feel its impact - it all remains distant. Life goes on…
Reclaiming memories
We only thought we would be in Chicago for a year so we rented out our New Jersey house while we were away. When it came time to move back I couldn’t bring myself to return to that house. My emotions surrounding the house have conflicted me for so long but as we are getting ready to say goodbye to the house, it is all becoming clear.
The Quiet Wheels
After seeing a new musical in LA about a family struggling with their daughter’s epilepsy I came home reanalyzing the affect Adelaide’s life, and now Anessa’s, has on Jackson. Once a medically-complex/disability sibling always a medically-complex/disability sibling. But just because the wheel isn’t squeaky doesn’t mean it isn’t also in need of some extra TLC.
The morning after
We made coffee and packed lunches like always. I showered and got dressed like always. We got everyone out the door and off to school like always. The actions were routine, the scents and sounds familiar, but inside I felt anything but. No, that’s not true – I knew this feeling all too well, it was grief and it hurt.
Yep, it still sucks...
By now I should know that these anniversaries never go the way I want them to. After all, at their core, they are blatant reminders of how little control I have over my own life. But when it comes to grief, there is just no way to know which memory, realization, or well-meaning comment is going to sucker punch you and leave you gasping for air.
5 years
Well, the five-day period that begins with Adelaide’s deathaversary and ends with her birthday – aka hell week - is upon us… for the fifth time. I won’t pretend that it feels like yesterday, because it doesn’t. That high-stakes, medical life feels like an old pair of my favorite jeans that no longer fit the way they used to. The love, comfort, and memories are still there, but they are from another era.
A trauma journey
I know we are never healed, and that we will always grieve our lost loves. I’ve written those words here, in my book Normal Broken, and say them in nearly every speech I give. I could accept grieving Adelaide forever because I will love her forever. Grief = Love. What I didn’t understand is that the trauma of her life would be with me forever as well.
Lady(bug) of the lake
Last week, after four years away, we returned to Lake Michigan for a vacation. I was excited to introduce Anessa to my favorite place on Earth, but also prepared for the complicated emotions I anticipated would arise. Grief doesn't follow traditional rules though, and I never could have predicted what would happen.