Some "National" days are just for fun, but others are a quiet reminder of life’s realities. Today is one of those days: National Grief Awareness Day. This one hits close to home for me, as I understand the silent suffering of loss all too well.

The Quiet Grief of Losing a Pet

Lately, I've been thinking about the many faces of grief. Just last night, I was talking to a young man I admire... He's a wonderful business owner who took care of my bike when I was cycling and over the past years, I've gotten to know him and his girlfriend then wife now. He shared with me that his family's beloved dog was diagnosed with bone cancer, and they had to say goodbye. My heart broke for him as he spoke, knowing the deep love he has for his companion. He is grieving, and his sadness is a quiet echo of my own.

The Unspoken Pain of Child Loss

His story made me think of other types of loss I've witnessed. I have a daughter in love who lost who lost three through miscarriages. I've also been a witness to the profound suffering of a friend who lost four full-term babies to a rare genetic condition. The cross-shaped scar on her abdomen is a daily reminder of her heartbreak. And just as a person, she impacted me profoundly as she had the grace to walk through such tremendous suffering. A few years back, I met another amazing woman named Mari who bravely shared her story of losing her unborn babies. Her story was one of determination and resilience, and it inspired me to create a gift to honor her experience..

Finding Empathy Through Shared Grief

What I've come to realize is that grief doesn’t always look the same. It can be the loss of a loved one, a child, or even a beloved pet. And what this awareness day does is remind us to move in the direction of empathy—to remember that everyone is carrying a story we may not know.

I think that this national awareness movement is actually a good one because it gets you moving in a direction of empathy that otherwise you might forget about. 

~Michelle