Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds

The saying goes that time heals all wounds, but I find myself questioning that wisdom, especially in the context of grief. The grieving process isn't linear, nor does it conform to the constraints of a calendar. While time obviously plays a role, it doesn't magically erase the scars left of grief. I've had many conversations with others who've experienced deep grief, and we all share the sentiment that during a "grief burst" - an unexpected surge of overwhelming emotion - the pain can feel as raw as it did immediately after loss. 

In navigating my grief, I've discovered several avenues that have genuinely helped me to heal:

1.  Supportive Relationships - Surrounding myself with understanding and empathetic people has been very important in my journey. Those who create space for me to express my emotions and share my memories of my Mom have been invaluable.
2.  Sharing Experiences - Connecting with others on similar journeys has been so beneficial. Within a supportive group, the worry of burdening loved ones with my sadness dissipates because we're all navigating grief, and all actively want to talk about it. (I wrote about my grief group here.)
3.  Therapeutic Intervention - Seeking professional help from counsellors has provided me with a warm and safe space to explore my emotions, develop coping strategies, and navigate the complexities of grief. I've connected with several counsellors in the past (almost) 2 years, and while I have nice things to say about all of them, I am happy that I trusted my instinct to keep searching until I found someone I truly connected with. Shoutout to my current counsellor who's stuck with me over a year now!
4.  Practicing self-compassion and self-care - Grief has disrupted my sleep, appetite, and motivation to exercise, but I always find that when I take care of these things, I feel better.
5.  Expression through writing - Right after my mom died, I was actively posting on social media about her life, death, and all of the emotions I had regarding the same, and I found it therapeutic. I recently discovering that journalling has the ability to lift the burden of my thoughts and emotions that were once confined to my mind (especially between the hours of 1-4am).
6.  Finding Meaning - It is comforting to know that there are things I can do that honour my mom's life and memory, and I know that this will be a lifelong search for meaning for me. I've continued to carry on with many of Mom's traditions, I've participated in a 20K walk to fundraise for cancer research, and I hope to support others who are grieving - all as a search for meaning for me. I am currently reading a book called "Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief" by David Kessler, and it is great. I am sure I'll write about it on here some time.