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The Perverse Pleasure of Grief

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I was repeatedly told to 'get over' my double losses. Instead, I reveled in their depths and heights.

My Instagram Therapy

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With @textsforjohn, I can still walk through the world looking for things to share with my brother — even though he’s no longer here.

That Would Have Been a Great Story

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My high school boyfriend and I lost our respective spouses just months apart — and reconnected over our grief. I would like to be able to say that we fell back in love and lived happily ever after. Something else unfolded.

Grief Download: 5 Podcast Episodes You Need To Hear

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Listen to Prince Harry, Michelle Obama and others get real about loss.

What I Still Can’t Do

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Ten months after my sister’s death, I can laugh and smile. I can sometimes care about other people’s problems. I can’t listen to voicemails or write thank you notes or stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.

My Dead Mom Turned Me Into a Functional Hoarder

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Help! I find it impossible to give away any of the toys my mother gave my children.

On the Road

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After my 6-year-old son died, I was determined to grieve on my own terms. So I sold all my belongings and set off on my bicycle.

Painting With the Children of Newtown

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The experience I had in Sandy Hook changed me at a cellular level.

Had My Dog Come Back as a Squirrel? 

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My beloved beagle died, but he still seemed to inhabit our yard.

Why Michelle Obama’s Miscarriage Revelation Matters

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The former First Lady could change the conversation around pregnancy loss and infertility.

Screening Calls for My Dead Son

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‘Sorry, he’s not here.’ You have no idea how sorry I am Eric’s not here.

The Pittsburgh of My Dreams

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By day, I am aware that 23 years have passed since my father’s death. When I close my eyes, it’s a different story.

‘Wish You Were Here’

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My daughter, Nina, died five weeks before she was due to be born. Years on, I am surprised by the depth of pain her absence brings me.

Into the Unknown

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My dead fiancé loved Anthony Bourdain. When I heard the beloved chef and TV personality had died, I imagined the two of them, finally, breaking bread.

Putting My Dead Mom in the Cloud

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After stalling for 15 years, I finally have a low touch way to introduce my kids to the vibrant woman I knew.

Writing With Heart From Behind Bars

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I teach memoir writing at a prison. One week, the topic was loss. My students really went there — and so did I.

Time Machine in a Timepiece

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In telling me he wanted me to have his beloved watch, Dad was also letting me know his days were numbered.

‘I’m Not Done Being Your Mom’

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My son is gone, but our relationship — surprisingly — continues to evolve.

‘Congratulate Kim on Her Work Anniversary’

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The upside of LinkedIn’s reminder about my dead friend.  

What I Tell My Kids About Their Brother Who Died Before They Were Born

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Even in Seamus' absence, our four-person household continues to feel to us like a family of five.

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