When the World Moves On

Grief has a way of stopping time. When you lose someone you love, the world as you know it changes in an instant. Suddenly, nothing feels the same. Ordinary tasks become monumental, familiar routines seem foreign, and the person you were before the loss feels like a distant memory. Yet, while your world pauses, everyone else’s seems to keep moving forward.

In the days and weeks after a loss, the support is usually overwhelming. Friends call, flowers arrive, and people say all the things they hope will bring you comfort. But slowly, the calls become less frequent, the flowers wilt, and the world around you seems to resume its rhythm. People return to their routines, talk about their plans, and carry on as if everything is normal.

Except, for you, it’s not normal.

The silence left behind can feel louder than the loss itself. You’re left standing in the in-between space: the world that existed before your loved one was gone and the one you now have to navigate without them. Time feels frozen for you while everyone else keeps going. It’s not that they’ve forgotten your pain, but their lives haven’t stopped the way yours has.

There’s a strange kind of guilt that can creep in during this time. Guilt for not being able to keep up. Guilt for not "moving on" as quickly as the world seems to expect. And then, eventually, guilt for the small moments when you catch yourself laughing, feeling joy, or simply having a good day. Grief has a way of making you question everything, especially yourself.

But here’s the truth: You don’t have to move at anyone else’s pace. Grief isn’t linear, and it doesn’t follow a timeline. It’s messy, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Some days, you might feel like you’re moving forward, only to find yourself overwhelmed with sadness the next. And that’s okay.

It’s also okay to embrace the moments when you do feel connected to the world again. Those moments aren’t betrayals of your grief or the memory of your loved one. They’re signs that your heart is finding room for both loss and life. Your loved one wouldn’t want you to stop living because they’re no longer here. They’d want you to carry their memory forward, not as a weight, but as a source of strength and love.

So, if you find yourself struggling with the world’s pace, remember that it’s okay to take your time. It’s okay to linger in the stillness, to let yourself feel every emotion—the anger, the sadness, the longing. And when you’re ready, it’s okay to step back into the rhythm of life, one small moment at a time.

Grief may pause your world, but it doesn’t stop it entirely. Over time, you’ll find a way to weave your loss into your life. The world moves on, yes, but so do you—not by forgetting, but by learning to live with love and loss side by side.

💗Aimee