Traveling This Journey

I have been on this journey

For longer than I like

I remember you now

With fewer tears and

More smiles and laughs

But every now and then

It hits me

I won’t ever see you face

And the pain feels the same

As it did that first day

These times don’t worry me

And they shouldn’t worry you

Because I have learned

That living a life full of

Love and laughter

Doesn’t mean you are forgotten

Or that I miss you any less

It simply means I now know

How to continue this journey

©The Grief Toolbox

About the Author

Tanya Lord was a special education teacher when Noah died. After his death she read The Institute of Medicine’s report To Err Is Human and realized that the errors responsible for her son’s death were not unique. This created a desire and determination to better understand and work towards improving health care. Currently she has completed a master’s degree in public health and a PhD in clinical and population health research and is completing a post-doctoral fellowship. Lord shares her personal and professional experiences in presentations and workshops for medical staff and students focusing on the importance of effective communication with patients before and after an error. She also is a co-founder of The Grief Toolbox (www.thegrieftoolbox.com), which offers tools to help those along the grief journey. Lord may be contacted at [email protected]

I'm Grieving, Now What?