Before anything else โ say hello.
You don't have to share everything. You don't have to have the right words. You just have to show up, exactly as you are, and let us know you're here. Here's all I'd love to know:
Your name โ what would you like us to call you?
Who you lost โ not how, but who. Their name, and one thing about them you never want the world to forget.
What brought you here โ one sentence is enough. What made you take this step today?
That's it. No performance, no pressure. Just you, saying hello, in a space that is genuinely glad you came.
I'll go first. My name is Marieke. I lost my father Bram in 2011 and my mother Betty in 2022. They both died from lung cancer.
My dad Bram had a laugh you could hear and see from the other side of the house. My mom was always there support my dreams and ambitions. Both my parents had the funniest jokes and a great sense of humor. I'm an only child, so I'm the only one holding these memories and life feels empty without them. I miss them every single day. ๐
I built this community because I couldn't find what I needed when I needed it most. And I never want anyone to feel as alone in their grief as I did. I think it's important to have people around us who understand what it is to lose a loved one so we can support each other.
So โ hello. We've been waiting for you. ๐ฟ
โ Marieke