Grief is such a fantastic teacher. It is a complex thing, with ebbs and flows, deep caverns, and spacious open space. It is a prism of dark colors, yet it can offer bright radiance if you stay with it long enough. I never thought I would want to honor grief in such a manner, as it has been a torturous partner in my life. Yet, it has shown me how deep my heart can be and how much it can hold.

And while I love the holidays – the lights, the decorations, the festive gift-giving, and the yummy food of the season (I am obsessed with cooking this time of year) – like so many others out there, the season comes with a shadow of grief.

I kept hearing about our country being in a mental health crisis and it was getting worse. I was, then, personally touched by this crisis five years ago when my boyfriend passed away….

I don’t believe in the stages of grief! There, I said it!