“The understanding of interbeing helps us to remove the illusion of loneliness, and transform the anger that comes from the feeling of separation.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Grief often isolates the heart. Parents who lose a child sometimes feel separated from the living world. Familiar spaces feel foreign. Laughter can sting. Time feels warped. Many grieving parents withdraw, unsure if anyone could understand their pain. That isolation can harden into anger. The world moves on while we feel stuck in place. Grief makes the soul ache for connection, yet connection feels impossible. But grief also holds a deeper truth. We remain connected—not just to others, but to the one we lost.
The concept of interbeing speaks to a sacred truth. No soul truly exists apart from another. The love shared with a child does not disappear with death. That love remains active, present, and alive in the way we breathe, speak, and remember. Our child’s presence is stitched into our thoughts and gestures. Every act of love carries that presence forward. Other grieving hearts may not share our story, but they know the pain. In that shared ache, we find unity. In shared grief, we find belonging.
The belief in separateness can create anger and despair. That illusion deepens pain. But small reminders of connection can ease the burden. A bird landing on a windowsill. A dream that feels too vivid. A stranger who offers compassion at the right moment. These moments are not proof, but they can be comfort. Each small moment carries the thread of interbeing. We do not walk alone. The presence of love surrounds us, even when grief tells us otherwise.
Thought for today: Let grief soften your heart toward others. Interbeing reminds us—no one who loves deeply is ever truly alone.