Dear Mitch,
I have discovered another piece
of the new me during my journey through grief. I have always been an educator at heart, and this new path I’m walking is tapping into that skill in a way I never expected. Even in my anguish, I knew I wanted to help others who are grieving. It feels natural, even purposeful, to do this for a living.
Having experienced deep grief myself,
I’ve gained insights that will help me connect with others on a profound level. David Kessler, from whom I received my Grief Educator certification, says the best grief educators are those who have walked this path themselves. His words resonate deeply with me.
It is impossible to fully teach the aspects of grief
one experiences at its deepest. You can read about grief, study it, and learn its theories, but experiencing it firsthand is a completely different experience. I can think of numerous times when I said or did things, believing I was soothing someone’s pain, only to realize later that I had been dancing around the subject.
To those whom I may have
unintentionally hurt during those moments, please accept my heartfelt apology. I know now how to approach these conversations differently. You don’t know what you don’t know. That doesn’t mean I will always be perfect or free from mistakes—working with those who are navigating intense emotions is bound to be complex—but I’m committed to showing up with compassion and authenticity.
As I continue helping others in their grief,
I see it as a way of honoring you. Everything I do in grief education has you at its core. It’s my memorial to you, a way to keep your memory alive through acts of kindness and support.
