When:
🗓️ August 30
Where:
🌐 Everywhere
Since:
2014
Founded by Angie Cartwright in 2014
A Day to Understand and Support Those Who are Grieving
Grief Awareness Day is a day to raise awareness of grief and its impact on people’s lives.
This day isn’t about merely acknowledging loss; it’s about acknowledging the intricate journey that grief takes us on.
Grief is a natural human response to loss. It is the emotional pain that we feel when someone or something we love is taken away from us.
Grief Awareness Day provides a platform to honor the journeys of those who have traversed the labyrinth of loss, to offer a compassionate ear to the stories that words may fail to capture.
Navigating Grief’s Terrain
Some people believe that grief is a weakness, or that it should be “gotten over” quickly.
But grief isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience. It’s not a timeline, a series of stages, or a formulaic process.
Grief isn’t a linear path; it’s a labyrinth, a rollercoaster of emotions. There’s no right or wrong way to grieve, and it is important to allow yourself to feel your emotions.
Each heartache is as individual as a fingerprint, and understanding that is a vital step towards true compassion.
Embrace and Empathize
For those who find themselves on this challenging journey, know this: it’s okay to feel lost.
Allow yourself to grieve in your own time and in your own way. Don’t try to suppress your grief.
Take care of yourself physically and emotionally and find healthy ways to cope with your grief, such as exercise, spending time in nature, or journaling.
When you feel ready, seek support, be it through therapy, art, or the company of loved ones.
And for those who stand beside someone grieving, offer a shoulder, listen to them without judgment and embrace the quiet spaces between words. Don’t try to fix their grief. Let them know that you are there for them. Offer practical help, such as cooking meals or running errands.
Empathy bridges the gap where words fall short.
The Origin of Grief Awareness Day
In the shadow of her own sorrow, Angie Cartwright created Grief Awareness Day in 2014 to help others who are grieving and to show them that they are not alone.
Grief Awareness Day reminds us that healing is personal, not prescriptive.
It’s a call to come together, to understand that grief wears many faces, and to offer compassion to those who are navigating this complex terrain.
Empathy: A Universal Language
Grief Awareness Day invites us all to reach out, connect, and uplift those who are grappling with loss.
Share your stories, lend a listening ear, and engage in conversations about grief. Volunteer your time to a grief support group or donate to a grief support organization.
Grief is a difficult experience, but it is important to remember that you are not alone. The road of grief is one we all traverse, and together, we can light the way.
If you are grieving, please reach out for support. There is no shame in asking for help.
If you know someone who is grieving, please reach out to them and let them know that you are there for them and that you care.
Reach out, connect, and let’s make a difference, destigmatizing this universal experience one empathetic interaction at a time.
#GriefAwarenessDay #NationalGriefAwarenessDay