Carrying Them With You
06 of 08You don't have to let go of the love.
People often worry that feeling better means forgetting, or leaving someone behind. It doesn't.
Many people find ways to stay connected to the person they've lost. Talking to them. Cooking their recipes. Wearing their jumper. Saying their name. Carrying something of who they were into the way you live now.
The firsts, the anniversaries and the holidays
The first year is tough, the first birthday, the first Christmas, the anniversary of their death. These days can be especially hard, and so can the days leading up to them.
It can help to plan ahead. Decide whether you want company or quiet, and whether to keep old traditions or create new ones. There's no wrong choice.
Joy and grief can live together
You might laugh again before you expect to, then feel guilty for it. Feeling joy doesn't mean you've stopped loving them or missing them. You are allowed to live fully, and grieve too.
