I felt pretty sheepish messaging Tracey on Facebook – it was the kind of invitation that warranted a hand-hold, or a hug, or at least some eye contact – but I’d had a powerful 2am thought, and was emboldened to ask, in case, perhaps, it was the universe that was nudging me, and not just garden-variety insomnia.

Tracey Rozsypalek has been on my mind, and in my thoughts, because it was the 5th anniversary of her husband Rudy’s death.

Photo by @oldmanloon

“Would you consider exploring your experience of grief and loss as a guestagrammer?” I asked.

Her week unfolded slowly, thoughtfully, as a brave and beautiful reminder that you never really get over great loss, but you can continue through it.

I think there are probably better places to have these conversations, than on instagram. But where are they? I don’t go to church. I am often accompanied by a kid, when I’m socializing. Girls’ nights are few and far between.

They’re not easy subjects to broach.

I hope that, with courageous friends amongst us, like Tracey and Dawn and Diane thoughtfully putting words to challenging experiences, for us here at The Wellness Almanac, we can create some safe spaces to begin to articulate these things, and to offer the possibility that we can talk about it, we can lean on the people around us and we can live through it when one story comes to an end.

from the children’s book Finding Winnie