It can feel strange, even wrong, to feel happy after loss. If I’m laughing, does that mean that I have forgotten? Grief and joy are not opposites; they share the same space – like roommates – One will bring the tissues; the other brings snacks.
Grief comes from love and the deeper we love, the deeper we grieve. One minute you might be laughing at a story about a loved one, and the next minute tearing up about losing them. This in not an emotional rollercoaster, rather that’s love doing its thing. Grief doesn’t mean dark skies forever, and experiencing Joy doesn’t mean you have forgotten them entirely. Each just take turns holding space.
So go ahead, laugh at the silly moments, and cry when you need to. The best tribute you can give to someone you’ve lost and loved is to keep living, loving and laughing – with tissues in one hand, and joy in the other.