Hi team 💜 I know that this topic can be really hard for a lot of people, but I do hope the ideas prove useful. If you're navigating grief at the moment, whether that's the loss of a person, pet, feeling, or anything else, know that you're not alone. Make sure to lean on those that love you and who you trust. They and we want the best for you, always 💜 If you need to contact someone to discuss any thoughts or feelings this content bought up, findahelpline.com could be useful to you.
I kind of see my sewing projects as a part of remembering or honoring my grandmother. She taught me to sew at a very young age, and when I take my time, I can do the tiny stitches like hers that make it hard to tell it wasn't a machine. She passed in 2011 after a fairly long battle with dementia and TIAs (mini strokes). She was practically never ill prior, so that just made the ill time seem so much worse in regard to her. I have recently been being hit with medical diagnoses that aren't strokes or mental declince, but carpal tunnel and degenerative discs in my neck making pain and nausea by noon a daily battle. Since screens can make it worse, I took to sewing and focusing on appreciating the skill she taught me, the memories of stories from a more peaceful time. 8t brings a calm peace that I had almost forgotten how it felt.
I have been doing this since 2004-6 when I took a course on death and dying. We were encouraged to write about those who were lost to us and it was okay if we didn’t know the person and yet their story was still relevant to our lives. I wrote about two grandparents who I never knew because they were gone before I was born, but they were still there in our lives as I grew up. I made entries to that notebook over the years, whenever I went through a period of grieving. As time went by I had filled the notebook. I put together something like the idea of quotes about death and life on the pages of a B6 size notebook every few pages to help have something to reflect on when wanting to write and yet having a blank mind when facing the notebook. The quotes have given a good starting point to write about something and then write on about whatever it is that made me want to come to the notebook. Thank you for sharing this idea with your audience.
This is I think the most important video you've ever made. As a grief guide journaling your feelings and memories and thoughts is crucial on the healing journey. I have really learned that grief and joy coexist and that you only grieve what you loved. By focusing on the love and the glimmers I'm not as affected by the triggers. I know that it is okay to be okay or not depending on the moment. Moving forward can be difficult but also possible. Grief is a unique personal journey, yet one that we are all on together. 💚
I began journaling for the first time a year and a half ago after my mother's cancer diagnosis. I needed an outlet for difficult feelings and to manage my anxiety. I had relocated from one part of the country to the other, got a new job and bought a house to be near her. It has been one of the most difficult and eventful times of my life. Now we have received news that my mother's cancer has spread to her bones and she is terminally ill, and the entry documenting this news happened to fall on my journal's final pages. From the first page to the last, the trajectory of her fight has been documented through my eyes. I am a perfectionist, so I wouldn't be able to keep up lovely looking spreads like this one. It would have become an artistic endeavour and I would get stressed about the details, eventually giving up with frustration. I needed the journal to be cathartic, something immediately available, somewhere I could eject my feelings and insights onto paper without restraint. So, I purposefully made the thing as ugly as possible from the get-go. I bought a journal with a plain cover and began writing in bleeding black gel pen, with crossings out, scribbling, scrawling, blocked out paragraphs with black permanent marker, hasty script. It worked; without the pressure of making the journal perfect, I was able to fill it. If anyone struggles with perfectionism and making things look 'correct,' maybe give this approach a try. No one else has to see it. To be honest, my journal is more like a narrative-style diary than a bullet journal or a scrapbook, but it retained elements of the latter. I recently read back through the past entries and had completely forgotten things I'd documented that were significant to me at the time. It really helped me gain some perspective, especially with the more petty worries. I was also careful to regularly document things I was grateful for which was helpful. I intend to begin a new journal documenting the journey of the latter part of my mother's illness, and when the time comes, the impending aftermath and grief.
This video found me at the right time. My mom passed away on March 21, and I’m feeling very lost without her. I am so sad. And I don’t know what to do with those feelings, I am going to try to journal about them. Thx for sharing
i had a friend who passed away February of 2023 unexpectedly and i for sure used some of these spreads to help me process. the power of journaling is wonderful.
So grateful to have found your video. I didn’t know where to start. Losing my mom Aug 22 of this year three months shy of her 84 bday and two months shy of her third grandchild born it’s been hard to navigate everyday life. I hope to use this method of journaling to help all the feelings I’m experiencing. Ty for this video. ❤
Oh Jess, I cannot thank you enough for tackling this subject. I have been an enthusiastic follower of your channel for about 3 years or so. I lost my Dad in Feb 22 and my Mum in Nov 22. As if that wasn’t enough loss in such a short space of time, my beloved partner of 26 years has just been diagnosed with a particularly rare and aggressive blood cancer. I can’t tell you how much I need this right now! Looking forward to the readathon as well, I think that will be great therapy too… Much love from the UK xxx
Thank you for this. For opening up yourself and your journey. It was a hard watch as years later I'm still grieving the losses of my grandmother and brother. I legit never thought of journaling this. One day, I'll need to do this, so I'm glad I don't have to start from scratch and scramble on how to do it.
Great idea and good information for those who have lost a loved one. After my husband passed away, I started a journal where I could write my thoughts and feelings. It really helped me deal with all of those feelings that we go through.
Great idea for a video, we don't talk about death enough. Honestly it would also be awesome if you could do a video with spreads for managing an estate. A lot of us haven't just had to lose a loved one but have also had to be the executor of an estate which is a literal nightmare of paperwork and tasks and red tape in a time when your brain is at its worst.
Perfect timing jess! one of my friends is celebrating the life of her mother today, 11 years ago today she passed away, and has been dealing with greif. i sent this video to her hoping it could help! this will be usufullfor me as well with my grandmas passing is coming up on 5 years is this year
this is such a good idea!! i esp like the idea of journalling about people who are not in our lives anymore for whatever reason - i have a few friends I’ve let go of, some I didn’t want to, but I knew it was best for my mental health, even though I valued them for the time they were there. And ofc there are some emotions i have that i’ve never thought of a way to unpack, this is a great idea for that!! thanks jess 🩷
Thank you, I am so glad you touched on this topic. So very important for metal health during one of the hardest times a person can go through in their life. I lost both of my parents at a young age and it took me years to even get to a point where my brain was mature enough to journal it out. I could see using some of these ideas to further dig up shit I never dealt with...😣 but ultimately good.
On the lesson Learned page, do the flowers in the corner look like a stylistic face that is smiling slightly? I am a bit relaxed today from a good massage session, and so might be seeing things in a different light.
I actually had a hard time watching this video, being weepy-eyed for most of it, and had to step away and take a break from watching it. I lost my dog 2 years ago this June and I dont think I've fully gotten over it - she was my fuzzy daughter, as I can't have kids. Seeing this video (or, as much as I've seen) kinda makes me want to do this in my journal but...maybe once I've recovered some, first.
Hi team 💜 I know that this topic can be really hard for a lot of people, but I do hope the ideas prove useful. If you're navigating grief at the moment, whether that's the loss of a person, pet, feeling, or anything else, know that you're not alone. Make sure to lean on those that love you and who you trust. They and we want the best for you, always 💜
If you need to contact someone to discuss any thoughts or feelings this content bought up, findahelpline.com could be useful to you.
Such a timely video - Mom passed away March 25 after a lengthy illness, and never thought about journaling to unpack my feelings.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your mom. ❤
I‘m sorry for your loss🙏 Blessings to you 💕💕
my condolences. if you do decide to give journaling your grief a try, I truly hope that it helps you heal.
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤
I kind of see my sewing projects as a part of remembering or honoring my grandmother. She taught me to sew at a very young age, and when I take my time, I can do the tiny stitches like hers that make it hard to tell it wasn't a machine. She passed in 2011 after a fairly long battle with dementia and TIAs (mini strokes). She was practically never ill prior, so that just made the ill time seem so much worse in regard to her. I have recently been being hit with medical diagnoses that aren't strokes or mental declince, but carpal tunnel and degenerative discs in my neck making pain and nausea by noon a daily battle. Since screens can make it worse, I took to sewing and focusing on appreciating the skill she taught me, the memories of stories from a more peaceful time. 8t brings a calm peace that I had almost forgotten how it felt.
❤
Thank you for sharing your story.
I have been doing this since 2004-6 when I took a course on death and dying. We were encouraged to write about those who were lost to us and it was okay if we didn’t know the person and yet their story was still relevant to our lives. I wrote about two grandparents who I never knew because they were gone before I was born, but they were still there in our lives as I grew up.
I made entries to that notebook over the years, whenever I went through a period of grieving. As time went by I had filled the notebook. I put together something like the idea of quotes about death and life on the pages of a B6 size notebook every few pages to help have something to reflect on when wanting to write and yet having a blank mind when facing the notebook. The quotes have given a good starting point to write about something and then write on about whatever it is that made me want to come to the notebook.
Thank you for sharing this idea with your audience.
This is I think the most important video you've ever made. As a grief guide journaling your feelings and memories and thoughts is crucial on the healing journey. I have really learned that grief and joy coexist and that you only grieve what you loved. By focusing on the love and the glimmers I'm not as affected by the triggers. I know that it is okay to be okay or not depending on the moment. Moving forward can be difficult but also possible.
Grief is a unique personal journey, yet one that we are all on together. 💚
Jess this is such a great idea. Thanks for thinking of it. So many people ignore grief or pretend it’s not happening. ❤
Yeah, I find that to be fairly common for less “positive” emotions 💜 wanted to give people some ideas for how to approach it!
I began journaling for the first time a year and a half ago after my mother's cancer diagnosis. I needed an outlet for difficult feelings and to manage my anxiety. I had relocated from one part of the country to the other, got a new job and bought a house to be near her. It has been one of the most difficult and eventful times of my life. Now we have received news that my mother's cancer has spread to her bones and she is terminally ill, and the entry documenting this news happened to fall on my journal's final pages. From the first page to the last, the trajectory of her fight has been documented through my eyes.
I am a perfectionist, so I wouldn't be able to keep up lovely looking spreads like this one. It would have become an artistic endeavour and I would get stressed about the details, eventually giving up with frustration. I needed the journal to be cathartic, something immediately available, somewhere I could eject my feelings and insights onto paper without restraint. So, I purposefully made the thing as ugly as possible from the get-go. I bought a journal with a plain cover and began writing in bleeding black gel pen, with crossings out, scribbling, scrawling, blocked out paragraphs with black permanent marker, hasty script. It worked; without the pressure of making the journal perfect, I was able to fill it. If anyone struggles with perfectionism and making things look 'correct,' maybe give this approach a try. No one else has to see it.
To be honest, my journal is more like a narrative-style diary than a bullet journal or a scrapbook, but it retained elements of the latter. I recently read back through the past entries and had completely forgotten things I'd documented that were significant to me at the time. It really helped me gain some perspective, especially with the more petty worries. I was also careful to regularly document things I was grateful for which was helpful.
I intend to begin a new journal documenting the journey of the latter part of my mother's illness, and when the time comes, the impending aftermath and grief.
My dad died in Nov. I cared for him in my home as a single mom for 13 years. Its like a light went out in our home🥺 thank you for this❤
This video found me at the right time. My mom passed away on March 21, and I’m feeling very lost without her. I am so sad. And I don’t know what to do with those feelings, I am going to try to journal about them. Thx for sharing
Grief journaling is so important. Keeping loved ones in your mind keeps them close. They will live forever through your words. ❤
i had a friend who passed away February of 2023 unexpectedly and i for sure used some of these spreads to help me process. the power of journaling is wonderful.
So grateful to have found your video. I didn’t know where to start. Losing my mom Aug 22 of this year three months shy of her 84 bday and two months shy of her third grandchild born it’s been hard to navigate everyday life. I hope to use this method of journaling to help all the feelings I’m experiencing. Ty for this video. ❤
Oh Jess, I cannot thank you enough for tackling this subject. I have been an enthusiastic follower of your channel for about 3 years or so. I lost my Dad in Feb 22 and my Mum in Nov 22. As if that wasn’t enough loss in such a short space of time, my beloved partner of 26 years has just been diagnosed with a particularly rare and aggressive blood cancer. I can’t tell you how much I need this right now! Looking forward to the readathon as well, I think that will be great therapy too… Much love from the UK xxx
Sending log from NZ! 💜 that’s a rough ride. Wishing your partner well 👏
This is amazing! 💝 Thank you soooo much! 💞✨
Wow! You sure do have some timing! I just had my dad's funeral yesterday. Thank you for this.
Sorry for you loss 💜 my thoughts are with you and your dad’s loved ones. Glad this video could be a resource for you
I’m so sorry about your dad. ❤
Thank you for this. For opening up yourself and your journey. It was a hard watch as years later I'm still grieving the losses of my grandmother and brother. I legit never thought of journaling this. One day, I'll need to do this, so I'm glad I don't have to start from scratch and scramble on how to do it.
Glad it could be useful for you 💜
What a powerful journal (and beautifully done). Thank you for sharing these ideas!
You’re so sweet and kind for introducing a topic like this into the journaling world. Thank you 🤍🌷
Great idea and good information for those who have lost a loved one. After my husband passed away, I started a journal where I could write my thoughts and feelings. It really helped me deal with all of those feelings that we go through.
Great idea for a video, we don't talk about death enough. Honestly it would also be awesome if you could do a video with spreads for managing an estate. A lot of us haven't just had to lose a loved one but have also had to be the executor of an estate which is a literal nightmare of paperwork and tasks and red tape in a time when your brain is at its worst.
Thank you for this, what a beautiful and inspiring way to deal with a difficult part of life. Saving for future reference 😊❤
So well done Beautiful. ❤❤❤
Perfect timing jess! one of my friends is celebrating the life of her mother today, 11 years ago today she passed away, and has been dealing with greif. i sent this video to her hoping it could help! this will be usufullfor me as well with my grandmas passing is coming up on 5 years is this year
this is such a good idea!! i esp like the idea of journalling about people who are not in our lives anymore for whatever reason - i have a few friends I’ve let go of, some I didn’t want to, but I knew it was best for my mental health, even though I valued them for the time they were there. And ofc there are some emotions i have that i’ve never thought of a way to unpack, this is a great idea for that!! thanks jess 🩷
Most welcome! 💜 I thought it was important to note that end of life is not the only reason we can lose people
Thank you, I am so glad you touched on this topic. So very important for metal health during one of the hardest times a person can go through in their life. I lost both of my parents at a young age and it took me years to even get to a point where my brain was mature enough to journal it out. I could see using some of these ideas to further dig up shit I never dealt with...😣 but ultimately good.
This was lovely. Thank you.
Most welcome 💜
I really enjoyed this video. These are really important things to discuss. Thank you!
Most welcome! 💜
On the lesson Learned page, do the flowers in the corner look like a stylistic face that is smiling slightly? I am a bit relaxed today from a good massage session, and so might be seeing things in a different light.
Such an important topic, thank you for sharing☺☺
Most welcome 💜
This is a wonderful idea.
I need this video. 😢
I hope it can be a resource for you 💜 Kia kaha
I actually had a hard time watching this video, being weepy-eyed for most of it, and had to step away and take a break from watching it. I lost my dog 2 years ago this June and I dont think I've fully gotten over it - she was my fuzzy daughter, as I can't have kids. Seeing this video (or, as much as I've seen) kinda makes me want to do this in my journal but...maybe once I've recovered some, first.
Yeah I feel you 💜 doing the research for this one was rough 😅
I wish I saw thus 8 years ago when my mom passed away 😢 it would have made my life less miserable
Is it weird I want to do this for my pets? I just had to put one down two days ago 😩
Totally fair to do this for pets! That's why I included a picture of my doggo 💜
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You’ve approached a difficult topic with thoughtful ideas, kindness, and sensitivity. Well done, and thanks!
Thanks Deb 💜
We are anticipating a loss soon, so this is the best and most terrifying video of yours I think I've watched 😅
I hope it proves useful in some way 💜 thinking of you
Thank you. I’ll need to circle back to this. Didn’t think it would get me since it’s been 2 1/2 yrs. 🥹☺️🫶🏼