As anyone who has ever grieved anything in the history of time will know, grief doesn’t follow a clear trajectory. There is no checklist. I’ll share what people often get wrong about the five stages of grief and offer a few alternative grief models.

A simple grief tending practice to help you flow with your grief

When someone asks you how much you love them, you might not usually lead with, “I love you so much, I am preparing my own funeral.” But here is where you may be missing an opportunity.

A death doula is a non-medical support person and guide who can accompany you through the journey of dying, offering support that honors the emotional, practical, and spiritual needs of everyone involved. For the person approaching the end of life, a death doula can create a safe space to explore fears, reflect on their life, and make meaning out of this final stage of living. This support may include helping with legacy projects, creating rituals to bring comfort, or simply being a steady, non-judgmental presence to listen and hold space during moments of vulnerability.