GOOD GRIEF: Relief Disguised as Loss

Typically, when we think of the phrase “good grief,” we think of emotions like shock, frustration, or exhaustion. Why do we never think about what those two words could really mean? And by that, I mean relief, a shift in direction, or sudden silence. I’ve been thinking about the phrase differently. What if some grief is actually good? Not enjoyable, not easy, sometimes lengthy, but necessary. The rainbow after the storm. Some endings may seem or feel devastating, but they can also be quietly making room for growth. Maybe instead of being frustrated, we should be relieved.

The kinds of “good grief” I look forward to are long calls disconnecting, situationships going dead, waits being over, and accepting that growth while grieving is a real thing. “Closure” could also be considered a way to grieve well. Sometimes closure is simply moving on in silence.