Lately, I’ve noticed myself thinking more about September 24th. That will be three years since I lost my dad. The date isn’t here yet, but I can already feel myself becoming more aware of it. The memories seem a little closer. Certain moments from those days come back more easily. Over the last three years, I’ve learned that grief doesn’t always wait for the anniversary itself. Sometimes the days or weeks leading up to it can be difficult too. So I wanted to check in with all of you: Is there a difficult date approaching for you? It could be the anniversary of losing your person, their birthday, your anniversary, a holiday, or another date that carries a lot of meaning. If you feel comfortable, tell us: 🤍 What date is approaching? 🤍 Who are you remembering? 🤍 Is there anything you’re planning to do that day or are you simply trying to get through it? You can say their name here. I'd love to hear about them. I also created a new free Still Waters guide called When a Difficult Anniversary Is Approaching with a few gentle ideas for taking care of yourself before, during, and after a difficult date. I’ll attach/share it here for anyone who needs it. And please remember: you don't have to create a meaningful or beautiful day. Sometimes getting through the day is enough. 🤍 — Amanda Still Waters | Grief & Healing

I've been thinking a lot lately about how important it is for grieving people to have a place where we can actually talk about the people we've lost. Not just how they died. Not just how much we miss them. But who they were. I know how much it means to me when someone asks about my dad and genuinely wants to hear the answer. I could tell stories about him all day. So today, I want to hear about your person. What's something about them that always made you smile? Maybe it was something they always said. A funny habit. An inside joke. Something they did that was completely them. Share their name and your memory below if you feel comfortable. This is a place where you never have to worry that you're talking about them “too much.” 🤍 I'll be reading every story.

I know I haven’t posted here as much lately, but behind the scenes, I’ve been working on something incredibly close to my heart. I wrote a book about my dad. 🤍 Nobody Prepares You for Losing Your Dad was born from my own experience of losing my dad and trying to understand how to keep living in a world that suddenly felt different without him in it. I wrote about the unexpected waves of grief, the ordinary moments that hurt, the memories that bring both tears and smiles, the things I still wish I could tell him, and what it has looked like to slowly learn how to carry both the love and the loss. Writing this book became part of my own healing. And in many ways, it helped clarify what I want this community to become, which is why you may notice a new name and look here: Still Waters Grief & Healing. My hope is that both this book and this community can help someone walking through loss feel a little more understood and a little less alone. I'm really glad you're here. 🤍 — Amanda

One thing I have learned since losing my dad is that grief doesn't disappear just because it's a holiday. You can be sitting at a cookout… laughing with family… watching your kids make memories… and still feel that little ache because someone important is missing. The empty chair. The tradition that feels different. The person who should be standing beside you. For a while I thought feeling joy meant I was somehow leaving my grief behind. But I'm learning that two things can be true: I can miss my dad deeply. AND I can still be grateful for the moments happening right in front of me. Love doesn't end. We just learn to carry it into new memories. 💙 If today feels a little bittersweet, you're not alone. Share below: ❤️ One thing you're grateful for today 💙 One person you're carrying in your heart today