Grief and Loss Service of Northwest Florida

06/17/2026

Scrolling through our FB page this morning and reading experts, quotes, thoughts, etc... from other grief sights/pages, an interesting concept was presented. I have talked about grief in the terms of a journey, with the understanding that this journey has no end and no path, which seems horribly daunting. I have also seen grief presented as a process that we all will go through and there are other ways to describe living with our grief. This morning I came across another concept of it being a language to be learned, become fluent in, and to integrate into our lives. Because grief is so individual and personal no one concept fits or resonates with everyone and we all don't need to define our "process/journey". As we are living with our grief we get to choose how we define it, how we want to be with it, we get to choose. If you feel stuck, reach out to someone safe, supportive, kind, loving, who listens. Grief is unique.

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06/17/2026

06/10/2026

As we walk this journey of grief and loss we may go to places that remind us strongly of our loss. There may be places we cannot go because of these reminders, the thought of going there is too intense, too painful. It is ok to not want to go to these places and no excuse needs to be made if you are invited by someone else. If , over time, you choose to return to these places, give yourself permission to grieve, feel the depth of your emotion. This is all part of the journey,, part of the healing, part of the love we felt for that person.

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06/03/2026

There is a concept called Radical Acceptance, it is a tenant of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. This morning I came across a quote that helps with explaining the concept and how it applies to grief and loss. It says that we can have two truths "I don't like this" and "I can survive this". It goes on to say that acceptance does not mean approval it just means choosing reality over resistance. When we fight against our reality it actually causes more pain, stress, exhaustion, confusion, and so much more. Learning to accept the reality eases much of our emotional upheaval. You never have to "like" the situation so don't try.

05/27/2026

It's amazing how a thought can be turned into reality, even in the most simple ways. As I was contemplating what to post today I kept coming back to posting about things people say to us as we navigate our grief. Things that they feel are helpful but are hurtful. As I scrolled though our FB page this was the thread that came up in most of the posts. So, how do we handle when people say things that hurt, that devalue our pain or our loss. The answer is just as individual as the person experiencing the grief. You can choose to tell them that what they say hurts, you can walk away and not respond, or do something in the middle. Choose whatever feels the best for you. Our grief journey is unique and many will not understand what we are navigating, but they want to help. Tell them what you need even if it is just someone to listen and not say anything.

05/20/2026

In the early days of a death, family and friends rally around the griever/s. They are there sometimes daily, some will even move in and help. But, as time passes people drift away, they need to return to living their own life. The griever is left alone more and more while working to navigate this world without their loved one. This can lead to feeling abandoned, forgotten about, unneeded, unloved, and myriad of other emotions. This is the time to reach out to a support group whether that is through a church, a grief and loss agency, a mental health facility, or any other type of support group. Being around people who have experienced their own grief helps the newly bereaved in navigating their loss. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek out support.

05/13/2026

As I scrolled through our FB page I saw a theme emerging from the various posts from other pages. The theme was about transitioning not recovering. Some of the posts reminded us that we are not ill, we are grieving, we do not need to get over anything. While at the same time, also reminding us, that this is a transition for us, not a resolution. For many, we will never "get over" our grief, it will change, it may become less intense (at least I hope it does), but it may never go completely away because we will always love the person we lost. Grieve in your way, transition in your way, reach out for support when needed.

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05/06/2026

This morning, as I was driving in, I was reflecting on how I had no inkling that my life would be as it is today. We get comfortable in our day to day activities, we enjoy the routine, and then something comes along a disrupts this. It can be small or major, but it is a disruption. Some disruptions lead us down a path we never thought we would have to traverse. Grief is one of those paths. It is a twisty turny uneven rock filled muddy path lined with cliffs rocks and obstacles preventing us from seeing where we are going. Sometimes it feels the path will never end. Sometimes we come upon open areas, peaceful areas, but the path continues in front of us and we must continue along it. Our grief journey can be long and complicated but it does not have to be walked alone. Reach out for support, someone to walk beside you along this path.

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04/22/2026

When we lose a loved one we don't stop living, we may feel like we have and we may feel like we want to, but we are still living. Each day is a fresh reminder that our loved one is gone and it is an opportunity to choose how to honor them. How will you choose to spend your day? How will you choose to honor them? There is no right or wrong answer as we are all different in how we grieve, mourn, and honor our loved ones. Take this time to reflect on these questions, jot down ideas, choose one that resonates, and make it happen.

04/15/2026

We are here to support you in your grief journey, whether your loss was recent or not, by providing support groups and social activities. However, coming here for the first time may feel very daunting: not knowing anyone here, not knowing what to expect, or not sure if this is right for you. If this sounds like you call us and talk to one of our volunteers who can assist in making this process less uncomfortable, (850)763-2681. We hope to see you soon.