“I have discovered in life that there are ways of getting almost anywhere you want to go, if you really want to go.” — Langston Hughes
Grieving parents often feel stuck in one place. The death of a child freezes time. The world keeps moving while we stand still. Life feels like it split in two—before the loss and after. Moving forward does not mean forgetting. Moving forward means learning to live again, even with the weight we carry. The idea of wanting to go anywhere may feel impossible. Many grieving hearts just want to stop hurting. That desire alone is a first step toward something new.
Grief does not follow a straight line. Grief unfolds in spirals, setbacks, and small victories. Every parent who continues on after loss creates a path. That path may not feel like progress, but every breath taken with intention matters. The smallest decision, like getting out of bed, can be a movement toward life. No one can choose the road we are on. But grieving parents can choose how to walk it. Even in sorrow, our feet can move forward—one quiet step at a time.
The desire to live again does not come all at once. Wanting to heal does not erase grief. Wanting to keep going simply means honoring both the love and the pain. Each parent finds their way at their own pace. Grief cannot be rushed. But grief can be witnessed. The human heart can hold devastation and hope in the same space. Wanting to survive is not a betrayal of loss. Wanting to survive is how love keeps going.
Thought for today: Take one small step toward life today. The way forward begins the moment you want to keep walking.