My relationship with grief began at 21 when my 15-year-old brother died by suicide. That “out-of-order” loss shaped my earliest understanding of grief’s intensity. Later, I faced grief through a major traumatic life event—an ending that carried fear, uncertainty, and deep loss, though not in the form of death.

Grief has also shown up in life transitions, especially in motherhood, where changing roles brought disorientation, sadness, and the need to regroup. Over the years, additional deaths, shifting identities, and the changes of midlife have continued to weave grief into my life story.

Through it all, I’ve learned that grief isn’t only about endings—it’s also about growth, healing, and becoming more fully who we are. Grief moves alongside joy, laughter, and living; it is the dance of holding loss while still moving forward.