Time After Time

Grief Recovery: By Patricia D. Freudenberg

Time is a matter of fact. Here on Earth—this plane we call the land of the living—we are governed by clocks and calendars. Time is measured, watched, and often chased. We watch our bodies age and our lives change, and we mark milestones by the passing of years.

But in grief, time takes on a different shape.

As a certified End-of-Life Coach, I often speak metaphorically to bring meaning to these moments, even if it feels abstract or extreme. It’s my way of reaching hearts that feel fractured by loss.

When we lose someone we love, time seems to turn against us. The days go on, but our hearts remain in that moment of loss. We may see the world continue around us—strangers smiling at coffee shops, coworkers talking about the weather, children playing in the park. All of it seems too normal, too unaffected, while inside, we feel like everything should have stopped. Time after time, we witness life moving forward, and yet our grief anchors us to the past.

It can feel cruel. It can feel unreal.

But maybe, just maybe, we can look at time from another perspective.

What is time, really? Could it be more than ticking hands on a clock? What if, beyond this physical plane, time doesn’t exist the same way? In many spiritual beliefs, the afterlife is not bound by time. Space is timeless. Love is timeless. Maybe our souls are too.

If we allow ourselves to let go of the rigid idea of time—even for a moment—we might find peace in the mystery. We might begin to wonder: is our loved one truly gone, or have they simply moved into a place where time no longer matters?

In the early stages of grief, this may not bring immediate comfort. And that’s okay. But if you can find an anchor—a belief, a hope, a memory—that helps you feel connected beyond time, then hold onto it. Let that anchor keep you grounded, even as the world keeps spinning.

Time doesn’t have to be your enemy. It can become your teacher. It can become a bridge. And over time—yes, time after time—you may begin to feel a rhythm return to your life.

Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and healing isn’t linear. But both coexist with time. And when we let time just be—not something to fight, but something to witness—we make room for peace.

Prompt for Reflection: Have you ever felt like time should have stopped the moment you lost someone? What belief or anchor could help you view time as something sacred, instead of something painful?

Book Recommendation If today’s reflections resonate with you, I invite you to read my book, Live Your Legacy: A New Spin on Mourning. This guide offers a fresh perspective on grief, introducing Legacy as the seventh stage—a sacred opportunity to continue the love and influence of those we’ve lost. Through stories, tools, and heartfelt insights, you’ll learn how to turn pain into purpose and honor your loved one in meaningful ways.

Available now on Amazon

LIVE YOUR LEGACY

 (Or search Live Your Legacy: A New Spin On Mourning by Patricia D. Freudenberg)

All Rights Reserved. © Patricia D. Freudenberg, Certified End-of-Life Coach