There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief … And unspeakable love …
Washington Irving

After the death of a beloved, there is no avoiding the overwhelming grief or the tears. In the immediate aftermath, we may be in shock, feel numb or even be in denial about the loss. Although everyone’s timetable is different, eventually we have to acknowledge the loss and how devastated we are. No matter how painful, we must sit with our grief and all that we’ve lost in order to start healing.

a close up image of a piece of paper with handwriting all over it

At Salt Water, we can help you learn to live with an unbearable loss. We offer ideas, strategies, tools and most importantly, hope that you can survive the death of someone you didn’t think you could live without.

We invite you to become part of our community. Share your story, ask a question, make a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

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Photo of the Milky Way against a backdrop of a dark, starry night

The Brightest Stars

All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some. who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others, they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. But these stars are all silent. You — you alone — will have the stars as no one else has them … In one of the stars, I shall be living. In one of them, I shall be laughing.

Harmony, a black and white Boston terrier

You Left Today

You left today and went to that place I do not yet know. You took with you the sunshine and my smile.

Corals 2 at sunrise near Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

There Are No More Memories

“I don’t know how you go on without your son, sweet pea. I only know that you do. And you have. And you will.” Cheryl Strayed, “The Obliterated Place”

Dad is seated wearing a white shirt; Mom is sitting next to him with her hands around his arm.

Another Life

There was another life I might have had, but I am having this one — Kazuo Ishiguro

The author, Pia Spector on graduation day wearing her black robe with a white dress underneath. Her now deceased then boyfriend is shown in profile on the right

Bargaining With Grief

No one likes to grieve. Grief is like anxiety; it lingers in the gut, it increases and decreases rapidly, tears come at odd times — each hour is punctuated by not knowing when the tears, the fear or the desperation will rise again.

Photo of a brownish rock structure against the milky way

Moments

We do not remember days, we remember moments — Cesare Pavese

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