Grief comes in many forms. I've personally experienced several types, and I know that there are many others which I haven't. Grief can be caused by many human experiences, from the obvious loss of a family member, close friend or beloved pet; to the loss of a friendship, job, or the ability to do something that used to be easy-- like push-ups, or being able to remember the details of the past as you once did.
Each of these forms of grief has had a varying degree of impact on my life and how I function from day to day. It would seem that out of the most painful situations or circumstances come unexpected treasures. The pain of grief is acute and all-consuming at the outset. The barrage of emotions affecting physical health and mental acuity can have long-lasting consequences. But, if there's one thing we can all count on in life, it's that everything is in a constant state of change. That's a double-edged sword of its own, I suppose.
I've found that creativity is a means by which one can dull the cutting edges of that sword. Art draws out emotional distress and joy alike. The act of creating art is a kind of soothing balm that, when applied to the wounds of grief-- or any other emotional wound, for that matter-- can bolster one's ability to process and clarify the many aspects of emotional trauma.
It is said that "time heals all wounds". I would argue that time doesn't really heal the wounds of grief, but it can bring perspective, understanding, and a form of surrender. Sure, that can look like a type of healing, but it's more like an asymptote, always approaching a zero point but never fully reaching the mark. It just morphs into something new. That's the nature of an ever-changing experience. Stagnation is an illusion. Grief is an ever-shifting experience of change to which one becomes accustomed via the vehicle of time.
It's one of the most beautiful gifts this life has to offer, but it needs the grinding wheel of time for that to become apparent. That's okay, though-- we have eternity to play it all out.
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