and staying connected in some way with your loved one. You may never relate to stages or tasks or any other process, and that is OK, too.
Overall, what is important to keep in mind is that there is no normal or abnormal way to grieve. Grief is a delicate balance of both holding on and letting go. This is a powerful, complex, and often confusing journey. What it looks like for you and how you navigate through it is personal and is an important part of your story.
There can be a range of everyday experiences that change and evolve throughout the grieving process. If you find that you are neglecting your physical self-care and emotional well-being, please reach out. There are many experienced, caring, professional support resources to help along this challenging journey.
Develop a plan to stay connected to your loved one.
The experience of grief and mourning can affect us in profound ways. Though your loved one’ s physical time on earth has ended, the love you feel for this individual never ends. Finding ways to honor their legacy and, with the intention, to maintain a connection can be helpful as you work to move forward in your life. Examples include:
• Lighting a candle in their memory
• Framing a letter they wrote
• Making a quilt from their old clothing
• Contributing to a cause they supported
• Crafting a piece of jewelry from one of their items
• Tending to their garden
You can memorialize and honor your loved one in many ways. Try not to deny but rather incorporate the loss into your life. The progression of neurodegeneration is often slow and can be painful to witness, typically involving anticipatory grief and ambiguous loss over a number of years. This process is different from other terminal diseases, and the physical and emotional toll can be overwhelming. You have learned about strength, courage, and resiliency as you cared for your loved one through their illness,
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