When Grief and Gratitude Walk Hand in Hand
This week, my heart is holding something very tender.
It has been 43 years since I lost my precious mum. It brings up so many memories and emotions as I remember all the people I have loved and lost.
As I sit here writing this, I think of my dear older brother who passed away earlier this year, peacefully, in his sleep, after a long battle with cancer. This pic was taken about 8 weeks before his death. I have now lost my mum, my four siblings and a nephew to cancer. I am very grateful that I am a cancer survivor, having had major surgery for bowel cancer in 2019. I give gratitude for every new day I spend on this earth. Every day is a bonus!
Even writing those words feels surreal.
Grief has a way of arriving quietly… and then filling every corner of your being.
There are moments when the sadness feels heavy and still. Moments when memories rise unexpectedly. Moments when I simply pause and feel the space of the physical presence once filled by all these people in my life.
And yet — alongside the sadness — something else is present.
Gratitude.
Not the loud, celebratory kind.
But a deep, steady, grounding gratitude.
Gratitude that he was my brother. Gratitude for my family.
Gratitude for the years we shared.
Gratitude for laughter, conversations, memories, and the quiet comfort of knowing they were always part of my life story.
Grief and gratitude are not opposites.
They coexist.
They hold hands.
💛 What Grief Is Teaching Me Right Now
Grief is not something to fix or rush through.
It’s a natural response to love.
The deeper the love… the deeper the grief.
We often think grief is only sadness. But it is so much more.
It is memories.
It is longing.
It is reflection.
It is love continuing in a different form.
And for me… it is also awareness.
Awareness of how precious life is.
Awareness of how quickly time moves.
Awareness of what truly matters.
Grief has a way of stripping life back to its essentials.
Love.
Connection.
Presence.
Meaning.
🌿 Why Gratitude Matters in Grief
Gratitude doesn’t remove pain.
It softens it.
It gives grief somewhere gentle to land.
Each day, I’m intentionally noticing what remains — not just what is gone.
I am grateful:
✨ That they are no longer suffering
✨ That we had time to love each other well
✨ That I carry memories no one can take away
✨ That love does not end when a life does
Gratitude helps me honour them — not only in mourning their absence, but in celebrating their lives.
It allows me to say:
“Yes, this hurts… and yes, this love was worth everything.”
🌼 The Quiet Practice Supporting Me Each Day
Right now, my gratitude practice is simple.
Some days I write in my journal.
Some days I speak my gratitude aloud.
Some days I just sit quietly and remember.
I don’t force positivity.
I don’t pretend I’m not grieving.
I simply allow both to exist.
Sadness for what has changed.
Gratitude for what was — and still is — in my heart.
This is not about “moving on.”
It’s about carrying love forward.
🌸 A Gentle Reminder If You Are Grieving Too
If you are walking through grief right now, please know:
You don’t have to be strong every moment.
You don’t have to heal on a timeline.
You don’t have to choose between sorrow and gratitude.
You can hold both.
Grief is love continuing.
Gratitude is love remembering.
And together… they help us keep living.
🤍 In Loving Gratitude
Today, I honour those I have loved and lost.
Not only with tears… but with thanks.
Thank you for being my family
Thank you for the years we shared.
Thank you for the love that remains.
That love lives on — in memory, in heart, and in gratitude.
Always.
📘 If You Need Support With Grief
Grief can feel overwhelming, confusing, and deeply personal.
If you would like to better understand the grieving process — especially in later life — I’ve created a comprehensive Loss and Grief Guide that explores:
✔ Different types of grief
✔ Emotional and physical effects of loss
✔ Coping strategies for healing
✔ How loved ones can support you
✔ Professional support options
✔ Ways to navigate anniversaries and special days
You can access it here:
You don’t have to walk this path alone.
0 Comments