Grief and Gratitude
I shared recently about my grandmother’s passing.
The response was an outpouring of messages, kindness, and quiet check-ins that reminded me how much strength I’ve drawn from my family and community these past couple of months. I’m deeply grateful for that.
But I also spoke about the challenge of grief and its nonlinear shape; its refusal to follow any clear timeline.
And it made me realize how often we reserve the word grief for certain moments.
Death, loss, endings.
When in truth, we grieve all the time. The loss of a relationship. A job. A version of ourselves. The slow, quiet dissolution of a dream. We move through little griefs daily, trying to make sense of them without always naming them.
Then, I received a message that stopped me.
“Meanwhile, if you want to share and exchange stories about grandmothers, I'd love to provide that space for you.
It may seem strange coming from someone you don’t know, but it’s from a place of understanding what loss brings — and the power of support in those moments. Strength to you and your loved ones, Jovonna.”
And just like that, another wave of gratitude hit me—for the sheer humanity of strangers, for their grace and generosity. It made me wonder if this was a space others might need too.
So, with that in mind, I’ll be hosting a “Grief and Gratitude” workshop. A relaxed, safe space to explore the tender place where loss and love meet. We’ll create a quiet space to explore how those emotions can coexist. Through reflective prompts, gentle writing exercises, and optional sharing, we’ll learn to hold both without rushing toward resolution.
Come as you are.