ABSTRACT
Loss and grief are virtually inescapable during one’s life. Usually, we think of grief and loss in terms of dealing with the death of a loved one through an unforeseen circumstance or after a chronic illness. But considerable sorrow is also a part of the dissolving of an intimate relationship, divorce, or friendship, or other less commonly considered life experiences that also involve significant changes to one’s daily experience. Experiences with loss and grief are uniquely personal experiences. The purpose of this chapter is to share my experiences with loss and grief, the contingencies surrounding them (to the best of my recollection), the importance of the communities who supported me, and to describe how my experiences with loss and grief have collectively impacted my trajectory and my repertoires as they manifest in my roles as a daughter, sister, aunt, friend, student, colleague, mentor, and professional. The stories that I share are deeply personal; they detail the intimate nature of my journey with loss and grief. It is intentionally high context, which may be surprising to some readers. It is also an opportunity, perhaps even an invitation, for the reader to share in the vulnerability we each experience after a significant loss, and to reflect on their own experiences with loss and the grief that ensues.
