08/20/2025
Pawsitive Ripples Effect Project was started so we can tap into the strengths of combining work with youth impacted by trauma, nature, and animals. There are ways that grief shows up in all of those components. There are ways that each can help relieve and heal pain from grief too.
When we think of grief, people often think of the passing of a loved one. Processing that kind of loss is so incredibly heavy and our heart goes out to everyone who is in the midst of that.
Grief can be caused by so many different types of losses though too, especially when we consider trauma, and this isn't talked about as often. It's ok to grieve what we missed out on because of rough life circumstances. Working through trauma and our toughest days, so we can heal, takes so much strength and is incredibly valuable, but it can stir up feelings of grief with missing the time or safety we needed. Even positive changes in life may lead us to feel deep grief if stepping towards one thing meant stepping away from something else. It can be a lot to hold, but it's ok to celebrate or acknowledge where we're at and, at the same time, hold space to acknowledge the grief of what was lost.
Talking out these things about grief helps us all to see the complexities of what people may be going through better and name it. Naming it makes it just a little easier to hold & seek support.
Here's some questions we're leaning into:
What different kinds of loss can lead to feeling grief?
What has been supportive for you when grieving? Or how can we show up for others who are grieving?
What impacts do you think nature and animals can have on working through grief?
Feel free to share in the comments. If you'd like to talk it out privately, send us a direct message, text or email. If you need someone to talk to or need help finding supportive resources, we are here.
(360) 518-4540
[email protected]
