Giving advice for grief and sadness is not something I normally do.
I am naturally happy, rarely sad. I wake up that way, and I realize it’s a blessing. But a few days ago, I was sad. I learned that a dear friend lost her father.
In honor of my friend and her remarkable dad, I decided to share my thoughts on something I typically don’t write about – sadness.
I consider these sentiments to be among the most insightful and well-written advice on how to make our toughest days the foundation to happier days ahead.
What is the best advice for processing grief and sadness?
You don’t ever have to apologize for feeling sad. You’re being true to yourself by honoring your emotions. Whether you have a need that isn’t being met, a person in your life who is making you feel small, a painful memory from the past, or an emptiness from the loss of someone you care about; whatever it is, it deserves to be expressed and felt. – Daniell Koepke
No matter how happy someone may seem, they have moments when they question if they can go on. No matter how confident someone may look, there are times when they feel unsure and insecure. And no matter how strong someone may appear, they have days when they feel like they’re falling apart. Never think for a moment you’re alone with your struggles. You’re not a mess. You’re human. – Lori Deschene
You could have grown cold, but you grew courageous instead. You could have given up, but you kept on going. You could have called them weeds, but instead you called them a wildflower. You could have died a caterpillar, but you fought on to be a butterfly. You could have defined yourself by the dark days, but instead through them you realized your light. – S. C. Lourie
One day it just clicks. You realize what’s important and what isn’t. You learn to care less about what other people think of you and more about what you think of yourself. You realize how far you’ve come and you remember when you thought things were such a mess that they’d never recover. And then you smile. You smile because you are truly proud of yourself and the person you’ve fought to become. – Unknown
A sentiment for my friend who is grieving
To my friend who lost her dad: you bring light into every room, smiles to all of us, and happiness to your wonderful husband. When others see weeds, you see wildflowers.
Your father gave the world many gifts, the best of which is you. From all of us at the Hague Partners family, we love you.
