New Uncertainties
For me, the end of summer always carried a heaviness — the end of freedom, the return to structure, the bittersweet goodbyes after visiting family. Now, in grief, that same feeling returns. Every new season feels like being pushed into a new ‘school year’ of life I never signed up for.
Douglas is present in so many of my summer memories. Walking through parks in New York, chatting in the backyard swing, mornings with coffee, or nights under the tree that has since fallen. These moments live in me still, but they also remind me of all the spaces we no longer share. Even a drive along familiar routes can bring sudden tears.
That uneasiness of seasonal change echoes grief itself
— a push into a new reality without choice. The question is not how to avoid it, but how to step gently into it.
Just as school years once began with mixed emotions, grief’s seasons can be met with practices that ground and open us.
Supportive Practices to Ease Seasonal Transitions
• Gentle Orientation Exercise: Each morning, name one familiar thing that grounds you (like your coffee ritual, a walk, or a favorite song). Then name one new thing you’re open to trying that day (a new recipe, journaling prompt, or sitting outside for a few breaths).
• Seasonal Journal Prompt: Ask yourself, “What part of me feels like it’s ending right now?” and “What part of me is just beginning?” Writing these side by side helps reveal that endings always carry beginnings with them.
• Identity Anchoring Practice: Write down three things you loved with your person that still live within you. Then write one thing you’d like to try now, not as a replacement, but as part of the new version of you.
Highlight
Seasonal changes in grief can reopen wounds, but they also invite us to rediscover ourselves. Just like the first day of school, it’s both daunting and filled with possibility. By honoring old routines and embracing new ones, you can find steadiness in transition.
Healing Calendar Connection
This month’s healing calendar includes prompts to help you navigate transitions — journaling ideas, gentle practices, and moments of reflection to steady you when change feels heavy.
Explore the calendar to discover daily ways of easing into new beginnings, while carrying your loved one with you.
