What helps you feel connected to the person you've lost?
How do you maintain your continuing bond?
94 total votes
#livingwithloss
Three years without him and I still set two coffee cups out sometimes
It's been three years since my husband passed. Most days I function just fine. But every now and then, something catches me off guard. This morning I reached for two mugs out of habit and ju...
You don't have to 'let go' to heal – continuing bonds are healthy
There's an outdated idea that the goal of grief is to 'move on' from the person who died. Modern bereavement research recognises that maintaining a connection with the deceased is not only n...
Lost my best friend six months ago
Everyone focuses on partners and parents and children when they talk about grief. But losing a best friend is its own kind of devastating. He was the person I told everything to. Now there's...
A grief ritual that many of my clients find meaningful
Grief doesn't have stages – and that's OK
I know the five stages are everywhere. But after twenty-two years of working with bereaved people, I can tell you – grief doesn't follow a map. You might feel acceptance on a Tuesday and ra...
I still talk to my son
He's been gone two years. I still talk to him every night before bed. Just tell him about my day. I don't know if that's healthy or not but it's what I do. It helps.
LivingWithLoss
Long-term grief, meaning-making, and continuing bonds with those we've lost. Not about 'moving on' – about learning to live alongside loss with honesty and connection.
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Community Rules
1. No timelines on grief
Whether it's been two months or twenty years, grief is grief. Don't tell anyone they should be 'over it'.
2. All losses are valid
Partner, parent, child, friend, pet, pregnancy – every loss deserves space.
3. No religious platitudes unless invited
Don't tell someone their loved one is 'in a better place' unless you know that aligns with their beliefs.
4. Trigger warnings for sudden loss
If your post describes sudden or violent death, use a clear content warning.
5. Continuing bonds welcome
Talking to, about, or with your lost loved one is normal and healthy. This space honours that.