National Grief Awareness Day is August 30, 2024
By Helen Fernald
Have you ever lost someone who meant the world to you? When that person died, were you unsure you could go on? Perhaps it was a family member, your best friend, or your partner. It doesn’t matter.
Did she die unexpectedly? Maybe he died after a long and agonizing illness. Whether we receive the gift of saying goodbye or are traumatized by its suddenness, loss is difficult and unpredictable. Our breath is taken away; our hearts shatter. Then what do we do?
Grief is a very real and individual journey for each person. However, because we live in a fast-paced world, it is often difficult to stop and acknowledge how we truly feel.
Angie Cartwright founded National Grief Awareness Day in 2014, after several difficult losses. This day is dedicated to bringing support to those who have suffered like Angie, and to teaching others the realities of bereavement.
One of the best ways to begin to deal with loss is to find a professional—therapist, doctor, minister, coach—who is trained to help. It is very important to be able to tell our stories in order to heal. There are also online and in person bereavement groups, as well as grief podcasts.
Many health issues, such as anxiety, sleeplessness, depression and illness can result when we ignore the feelings of loneliness and abandonment that often accompany loss. For this reason, it is recommended to find professional help.
On National Grief Awareness Day, take time to acknowledge how you really feel. Talk with someone, spend time in nature, reach out to someone you love. If you know of someone suffering from grief, call that person. Everyone, at some time, suffers from loss. Grief unites all humans.
