Grief and Growth: Getting Your Steps In One Day at a Time

It’s been five months since Eddie died. And no, it hasn’t gotten easier.

People say time heals, but I don’t think that’s quite true. Time doesn’t soften the edges or fill the empty spaces. It just teaches you how to live with them. The grief is still here. Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, always present.

But I’ve noticed something else, too.

I’m stronger. Not all at once, and not in any dramatic way. But in small, steady ways that matter.

• I get up in the morning without bracing myself.
• I laugh, and it feels real.
• I make plans and actually look forward to them.
• I write, I create, I parent—and I do it with both sorrow and strength.

Grief hasn’t left. I haven’t “moved on.” But I’ve moved forward. I’ve built routines and rituals that honor Eddie and help me breathe. Healing is not a finish line. It’s the quiet decision to keep walking, even when the road is rocky.

And I’m still walking.

If you’re walking too, I see you. We carry what we love. We carry what we’ve lost. And somehow, we keep going.

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If this resonates with you—if you’re navigating your own version of loss—I’d love to hear how you’re moving forward. What helps you feel strong, even on the hard days? Leave a comment or share your story. We’re not alone in this.

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Read an introduction to the book I’m writing about later-in-life love, communication, blended families, living life to the fullest, health & fitness, loss, grief and navigating a new life. Introduction.

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Need support? Here are resources I found that offer grief and loss support – mentalhealthhotline.org, The Maven Clinic, and grief.com.