Growing Beyond Grief

I never set out to make a detailed game plan for reimagining my life after losing my husband of seventeen years. I did recognize that I couldn’t stay mired in the overwhelming grief forever; that it wasn’t healthy for me or my children.

Some of the growth that I have experienced was purposeful and intentional. However, there has been much more subtle development in me personally that I didn’t even recognize until I allowed myself to take a step back and assess my post-Steve life, often with the wise guidance of friends and family.

Decades after Steve’s death, I stumbled upon a name for this phenomenon of post-traumatic growth. In the early stages of grieving, the concept that anything positive could result from my loss seemed absurd, almost an insult to the memory of my loved one. In reality, I’ve discovered there is no better tribute to him than embracing this gift of growing beyond grief.