National Grief Awareness Day
Feelings and emotions are part of life; they’re what makes us human and unites us in ways that nothing else in this world can. They say no man is an island, and it’s true. We’re hardwired to form bonds with others whether we like it or not—it doesn’t even have to be with another human. We become attached to our pets, our jobs, or our hobbies. We outwardly express all sorts of emotions because of these connections—from happiness and excitement to anger and frustration. However, one emotion, in particular, is usually hidden under a façade rather than expressed: grief.
Grief is an emotion rooted in pain and loss. It’s that horrible, heart-gripping feeling that comes over us when we lose something or someone we love. And although we’ve all experienced it at some point in our lives, not all of us are willing to share that part of us with others. It could be out of fear of being vulnerable or simply because society sees grieving as a waste of time. No matter the reason, grief is an emotion that needs to be let out for healing to happen.
In 2014, Angie Cartwright founded National Grief Awareness Day in hopes of raising awareness about grief and starting a movement that changes the way everyone sees the process of grieving. Like she said, “Healing can only take place when grief is not shamed, rushed or tabooed.”, so this National Grief Awareness Day, let’s all do our part in furthering that cause by recognizing the importance of grieving and inspiring others to do the same.
How to Observe National Grief Awareness Day
Share Social Media Posts About #NationalGriefAwarenessDay
This National Grief Awareness Day, show some emotional encouragement to those undergoing the process of grieving by posting grief-friendly social media posts on grief support groups or online grief support forums.
If you’ve had your own share of grievances, you can also share your story on social media. You can write about what you felt going through it, how you dealt with the sadness, or how long it took you to finally heal. That could help grieving people who see your posts feel like they’re not alone in the journey and remind them that the rainy days will pass.
Acknowledge The Signs of Grief in Yourself
If you’ve recently lost a loved one or even a beloved pet and you’re going through the process of grief yourself, then take this time to acknowledge your feelings and just let it all out. If you’ve been struggling to pull yourself together, today you don’t have to. It’s okay not to be okay, and we don’t always need to have everything under control.
This National Grief Awareness Day, take a break if you need to. Cry, scream, reflect, take a long hot shower, spend a day out of town, or vent out to a friend—just let yourself grieve.
Reach Out to Grieving People in Your Circle
Another thing you can do this National Grief Awareness Day is to reach out to a grieving friend or family member and offer some emotional support. Maybe send them a text message and invite them to talk over coffee, or ask if you can drop by their house and hang out.
You can ask how they’re doing and go from there. Depending on where they are in the grieving process, they may open up about what they’re feeling or change the subject. Take your cues from the grieving person and respect it if they’re not ready to open up. Once they are, they will. Just let them know that you’re there to listen if they want to talk about their loss. Either way, they’ll appreciate it.
How do you plan on observing National Grief Awareness Day? Feel free to let us know in the comments!
