Grief is Like the Ocean

The following meditation was included in our Yizkor memorial book.  I composed it after listening to a friend describe her waves of grief.

Bonnie Tsui writes, “Not everybody is a swimmer, but everyone has a swimming story to tell.”
(Why We Swim)

Grief is like the ocean. There are days when the waves come crashing down upon us. There are other days when the water appears calm but then an unexpected wave knocks us off our feet and holds us down as it crashes overhead. We struggle to the surface and gasp for air. And then there are days when the waters are tranquil, and we can float on its gentle current and be carried by a sea of pleasant memories.

Grief is like the ocean. No day is the same. We have no choice but to go out and swim into the waters. We have no choice but to recount our tale.