September 4, 2025

No one prepares us for grief. It shows up without warning and takes everything we know away.    When we find ourselves in the middle of grief, we feel the weight of pain and emptiness crushing in on us.    Life is indeed fragile! One moment we are here, the next, we are gone.    When I lost my younger brother, Amaechi, my world came crashing down. I haven’t felt okay since then. I didn’t get to say goodbye or give him one last hug. This hurts even more.   He was one of my strongest support systems. He would always remind me of who I am, even when I forgot. How do I heal from this? How do I accept that I won’t see him physically anymore?    Amaechi was a modest person with a lot of love to give. He would laugh and encourage you. He would hide his pain to soothe yours. He had so much goodness to share. I have tried to stay strong, but found myself trembling and crying myself to sleep most nights.    How Do People Heal After Losing A Loved One?  This is a question that begs for an answer.  They say, “Time heals all wounds,” but it’s not entirely true. It’s not time that heals-it’s allowing yourself to go through the process of healing.    Going through this process won’t be an easy journey, obviously, but it’s a necessity.    Cry if you have to. Scream when you want to. Take time for yourself whenever you feel the need to. Healing is personal.    Please Don’t Tell People Grieving to Move on  Telling people who are grieving to move on is deeply hurtful. You don’t have to say anything when words fail.    Losing a loved one isn’t like losing an item. Allowing people to grieve is a great way to help them process their pain.    Sometimes silence says the most. Just sitting and holding their hands will make them feel a lot better.    Why Sharing Stories of Loved Ones Helps Us Heal  We all have stories and cherished memories of those we’ve lost. Sharing their stories helps with the healing process.    Since my brother died, I have been talking about him. Letting others know him as I did.    He was a fun, easy-going person. Full of life and vigour. Very thoughtful and mindful of everyone.    My brother was a meticulous individual. I often bragged about his passion for numbers and his ability to write great reports. He loves to write extensively and strongly believes in the value of hard work.    Growing up with him and knowing we shared lots of memories has been helping to soothe my pain. He was a brother who would defend you no matter the circumstances.   When he loves, he loves deeply. He is always appreciative of even the tiniest things done for him.    Amaechi was a family man to the core! He knows how to nurture friendships and show up for people. During his funeral, everyone who attended kept saying, he always shows up!    Final Thoughts: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay while Grieving  Losing a loved one is painful. You don’t have to heal overnight — take your time and process your loss. Share their stories and memories. Allowing people to tell you to “just move on” is wrong. You are allowed to cry, to grieve, and to feel the depth of your pain.   Only you can truly understand your grief. Allow yourself permission to heal at your own pace.   Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Show love and kindness to people, especially those who matter to you. Let them know how much they mean to you while you still have the chance.   For those grieving right now, please remember: you are not alone. If you feel ready, share the name and story of your loved one in the comments below so we can honor them together and keep their memory alive.