Grief Recovery Newsletter written by Patricia D. Freudenberg
Life. It might sound obvious, but sometimes we need the reminder: it’s happening.
We live around clocks, days, hours, calendars, and schedules. Whether we’re grieving, celebrating, or simply drifting through routine—life doesn’t pause. It moves forward. And alongside it, so do our emotions. Even in sleep, they’re there. Yes—that’s happening too.
So, how do we bring harmony to the ever-turning wheels of time and the waves of our emotions? Think of it like a river. If you let yourself flow downstream, even when it’s bumpy, you’ll eventually find calm. But if you fight the current and push upstream, you’ll crash—literally and figuratively. Resistance only creates suffering.
I speak this truth from experience. Years ago, one of my deepest struggles was asking: How dare life continue when I’m grieving? How dare the world keep spinning when I need time to stand still—whether to reset, to catch my breath, or simply to sit paralyzed by loss? But the reality is: it keeps happening.
The breakthrough came when I embraced this truth—not with resentment, but with allowing. And in that allowing, I found freedom. Freedom to breathe. Freedom to marvel. Freedom to accept the mysteries of life. Because life is a mystery—sometimes cruel, sometimes breathtaking, but always happening.
We have a choice in how we see it. We can focus only through the lens of grief, or we can also glimpse it with wonder. Even when it feels unfair, even when it hurts, we can still whisper: Wow—it’s happening. And in that recognition, we find strength.
Research Insight
Stanford University research on grief recovery emphasizes that acceptance—one of the traditional stages of grief—is often the turning point toward peace and hope. While grief is not linear, this stage allows us to loosen the grip of resistance. Acceptance doesn’t mean forgetting, nor does it minimize the loss. Instead, it means aligning with what is happening and making space for healing.
My own work extends beyond acceptance into legacy—choosing to carry forward love, memory, and meaning. As grief expert David Kessler adds with his “Finding Meaning” step, there is light beyond survival. When we allow life to keep happening, we can also allow ourselves to keep living.
Quote of the Day
“Life does not wait for us to be ready—it keeps happening. But in our allowing, we discover the rhythm of freedom.” — Patricia D. Freudenberg
Reflection Prompt
Pause for a moment today and say to yourself: It’s happening.
What feelings rise to the surface? Do they feel heavy or light? Allow them to flow, without resistance, and notice how acceptance changes the weight of your emotions.
Book Recommendation
If you’d like to go deeper into the journey of grief recovery, I recommend my book, Live Your Legacy: A New Spin on Mourning. This guidebook offers practical steps, journaling prompts, and a focus on legacy as the light at the end of the tunnel.
Available on Amazon
Patricia D. Freudenberg
Certified End-of-Life Coach | Author | Founder & CEO of Miss-U-Gram®
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