Grief and the Reality of Moving Forward
Today feels strange.
This morning, I’m gathering with my business group — connecting, building, living life.
This afternoon, I’m gathering with my family to celebrate the life of my grandpa.
Two very different spaces to hold on the same day. And guilt spreads through me to hold both in the same day.
Grieving is a strange thing. It’s a journey with no map, no rules, and no real preparation, even when we know it’s coming. I’ve lived through devastating losses in my life—loved ones gone too soon, losses that left holes so deep it took years to even begin understanding them. Some losses came with trauma, heartbreak, and layers of complicated emotions. Others, like my grandpa’s passing, feel softer. A life well-lived. A goodbye wrapped in peace instead of chaos.
But even so, grief is never easy.
And life, as it always does, just... keeps moving.
That’s the strange thing about it.
One minute, your world is different forever.
The next minute, people are buying coffee, driving to work, making small talk.
And part of you is almost offended — How is life still happening like nothing has changed?
Don’t they know everything is different now?
And then, moments later, you catch yourself doing the same thing.
Smiling. Laughing. Working.
Moving forward because life, for the living, has to go on.
Maybe that’s what feels different this time.
Maybe because this loss wasn’t toxic or traumatic, my brain isn’t trying to protect me by shutting down.
Maybe this is what healthier grief looks like.
It still hurts.
It’s still full of unexpected waves and hollow moments.
But it’s also full of gratitude, and connection, and the ability to keep showing up even in the midst of sadness.
Today I’m learning that you can hold grief and life at the same time.
You can honor someone’s memory and still honor your own journey forward.
You can sit with sadness at noon and find a little laughter by 3pm.
You can keep living, even when someone you love isn’t here to live alongside you.
How do we move forward after loss?
We move forward with grace.
We give ourselves permission to feel everything.
We show up for our commitments, for our families, for our dreams—because life isn’t about pretending we're fine. It’s about honoring every emotion as it rises, without letting it harden us.
Grieving while doing life is messy.
It’s weird. It’s uncomfortable.
But it’s also deeply human.
And I’m learning that there’s beauty in that too.
Today, I’m carrying my grandpa’s memory in one hand and my dreams in the other.
Today, I’m showing up—heart heavy, but open.
Today, I’m moving forward, and somehow, that's the most profound tribute I can give.
We need to remember that grieving is a personal journey. It can look different for each person. Do what feels good for you, your mind and body.