02/12/2025
One of the hardest parts of grief is how people tiptoe around the name of the person who’s died. They worry it will upset you, as though saying the name will reopen a wound you’ve somehow managed to close.
But anyone who has lived with grief knows the opposite is true. Their name is already with you, in your thoughts, your memories, your everyday life. What hurts far more is when others pretend that person never existed, as if love and loss can be tucked away.
Grief Awareness Week is a reminder that speaking their name is not something to fear. It’s one of the ways we honour who they were and how much they still mean. And if you’d like to, this space can be one place to do that.
I’ll start by sharing a name of someone I’m remembering this week, and you can follow if you wish:
This week I remember my friend Susanna. Vibrant, loving, funny, original, beautiful and brilliant. We had such s simple and deeply loving friendship. 💔 I never had enough time with her and I’m devastated there is no more time to spend with her.
So if it feels right, share the name of someone you love who has died in the comments, just their name, or a word or two about who they were. Both are enough.
When we speak their names, here and everyday, something shifts. We feel connected. Seen. And we remember that grief isn’t a sign of weakness but of love that continues.
The focus this year of grief awareness week is ‘growing with grief’ we are more likely to grow if we are met where are at, and you say their name.
I look forward to reading the names you share.
Love, Julia ❤️ Xx
