Oh this is so true Nikki. When people say, "There are no words," this is truer than they even know.
Sitting Shiva sounds just beautiful. I have not experienced this and imagine it would be very meaningful.
I am so looking forward to hearing more words. Perhaps one for 'that day'. I say anniversary but that has another meaning.
And for those who have not lost a child. A group of bereaved parents (definitely need a word here!) I was part of called those who did not share our experience, "muggles". A word for those who just don't and often can't know and so have odd expectations of us.
Thank you, Davina. i love “muggles”. I wrote a post a while back called “I See Thestrals.” I now, unfortunately, know what JK Rowling meant by it. On a deep level. Yes, we also need a word for ‘that day”. And how our lives and everything about them changed, before and after. Similar to BC & AD. Thank you for your thoughtful reply!
Feel free to quote my acronym for the early stages of grief, when we want to feel there is HOPE but it’s eluding us…instead we are just Holding On & Painfully Enduring.
I love this post. There are not enough words to express how profound loss deeply hurts. Or how it isn’t just something we experience, in fact it completely inhabits us.
Good luck with this fabulous new project, can’t wait to follow along Nikki 🙌❤️🙏
I agree. We need some words for different types of grief and what it entails. I’m reminded of “empty nest” and “empty-nester”. These words take on a whole new meaning when your child leaves your home due to their death.
A word I used a lot in early grief was "saturation." It was the feeling that a scorching agony inhabited every molecule of my body, mind and soul. It was probably not until somewhere in my third year that I no longer felt completely "saturated" with grief.
Yes. It becomes so familiar that you don't realize how saturated you are until it begins to ebb, and you finally feel like you can breathe. And it can take years. This is a good one. Thank you.
Nikki, so true. We need more words to describe the feelings of grief. I want to suggest griefaniversary. We need a word for the day your loved one dies. It’s a hard day and I think grief needs the headline. Looking forward to your new words.
'Grief is only a word, but it is so much more' you're right Nikki, we don't have the language to even begin to describe its impact and I've noticed we increasingly avoid saying 'death'. 'Digestation' is a great starting point. Thank you for the vital work you do to help people who grieve.
With-ness is the whole thing, really. That’s the Trinity collapsed into a sentence. A pervasiveness, a presence. An everywhere-ness." ~ Nadia Bolz-Weber
These are the words that bring me peace. To be reminded that my son, Douglas, is with me always, a with-ness, and that he is everywhere, an everywhere-ness.
I'm excited to read what springs forth, Nikki. I'm a seeker of words to help build bridges to one another. You're onto something vital. My gratitude. 💜
This was just wanted I needed to read today, sending it to a friend who may also need to hear it. Looking forward to the vocabulary words you come up with!
Oh this is so true Nikki. When people say, "There are no words," this is truer than they even know.
Sitting Shiva sounds just beautiful. I have not experienced this and imagine it would be very meaningful.
I am so looking forward to hearing more words. Perhaps one for 'that day'. I say anniversary but that has another meaning.
And for those who have not lost a child. A group of bereaved parents (definitely need a word here!) I was part of called those who did not share our experience, "muggles". A word for those who just don't and often can't know and so have odd expectations of us.
Great work, you wonderful woman. 🤗🤗🤗
Thank you, Davina. i love “muggles”. I wrote a post a while back called “I See Thestrals.” I now, unfortunately, know what JK Rowling meant by it. On a deep level. Yes, we also need a word for ‘that day”. And how our lives and everything about them changed, before and after. Similar to BC & AD. Thank you for your thoughtful reply!
Feel free to quote my acronym for the early stages of grief, when we want to feel there is HOPE but it’s eluding us…instead we are just Holding On & Painfully Enduring.
I love this post. There are not enough words to express how profound loss deeply hurts. Or how it isn’t just something we experience, in fact it completely inhabits us.
Good luck with this fabulous new project, can’t wait to follow along Nikki 🙌❤️🙏
Thank you, Esther. I like the HOPE acronym. I’ll include it in July, as I have several already scheduled for June. Thank you!
Lovely! Excited to see your new dictionary unfolding…
I agree. We need some words for different types of grief and what it entails. I’m reminded of “empty nest” and “empty-nester”. These words take on a whole new meaning when your child leaves your home due to their death.
I will let you know if I come up with one.
Yes, so we need a new word. This is good. Thank you!
A word I used a lot in early grief was "saturation." It was the feeling that a scorching agony inhabited every molecule of my body, mind and soul. It was probably not until somewhere in my third year that I no longer felt completely "saturated" with grief.
Yes. It becomes so familiar that you don't realize how saturated you are until it begins to ebb, and you finally feel like you can breathe. And it can take years. This is a good one. Thank you.
Nikki, so true. We need more words to describe the feelings of grief. I want to suggest griefaniversary. We need a word for the day your loved one dies. It’s a hard day and I think grief needs the headline. Looking forward to your new words.
Pam, yes! It can be so frustrating can't it...to find the right word for that day.🙏
Yes. It shows the need to invent new ones.
Oooh, yes. There should be a word for that. I will need some time to marinate this one, so it's not so clunky. Thank you!
Great point- there’s no title for a childless parent…
And digestation seems appropriate
And it seems to be in our vocabulary already so it’s not jarring.
Ah, a childless parent. I know there's something better than "barren," which only refers to the female. I'll work on this one! Thank you, Rene!
'Grief is only a word, but it is so much more' you're right Nikki, we don't have the language to even begin to describe its impact and I've noticed we increasingly avoid saying 'death'. 'Digestation' is a great starting point. Thank you for the vital work you do to help people who grieve.
Thank you, Kate! I'm looking forward to doing something a bit different for the summer months. I appreciate your support!
"I am with you always.
With-ness is the whole thing, really. That’s the Trinity collapsed into a sentence. A pervasiveness, a presence. An everywhere-ness." ~ Nadia Bolz-Weber
These are the words that bring me peace. To be reminded that my son, Douglas, is with me always, a with-ness, and that he is everywhere, an everywhere-ness.
I'm excited to read what springs forth, Nikki. I'm a seeker of words to help build bridges to one another. You're onto something vital. My gratitude. 💜
Joanne, that is just beautiful. "Withness".
Thank you, Joanie. I'm looking forward to finding some new vocabulary for all of us to use!
This was just wanted I needed to read today, sending it to a friend who may also need to hear it. Looking forward to the vocabulary words you come up with!
Thanks, Natalia. I think I'll have some fun finding the right words, so I'm looking forward to a little change for the summer.