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You cannot die of grief, though it feels as if you can. A heart does not actually break, though sometimes your chest aches as if it is breaking. Grief dims with time. It is the way of things. There comes a day when you smile again, and you feel like a traitor. How dare I feel happy. How dare I be glad in a world where my father is no more. And then you cry fresh tears, because you do not miss him as much as you once did, and giving up your grief is another kind of death.
Laurell K. Hamilton
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Grief is a painful emotion that gradually lessens with time, making it difficult to reconcile moments of happiness after loss.

This quote expresses the deep complexities of dealing with grief and the emotional turmoil that comes with losing a loved one. It highlights the truth that while grief feels unbearable and intense, it eventually diminishes over time, leading to moments of happiness that can evoke guilt for having moved on. The speaker captures the conflicting feelings of remembering a lost loved one while trying to embrace life again, emphasizing that letting go of grief can feel like losing them all over again.

Themes

GriefLossHappinessTimeEmotionLove

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be shared at a memorial service to remind attendees of the healing nature of time.

More from Laurell K. Hamilton

Remember your personal demons should be afraid of you, because you are their home, their food, and as you heal, their executioner.
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