Practical traction after a hard hit—field notes and tools for rebuilding without performative positivity
When the Old Role Stops Calling Your Name Reader’s Moment: This one is for the person who has technically moved on, but still feels haunted by the version of themselves who used to know exactly where they belonged. You found work again. You rebuilt some structure. You got through the immediate collapse. From the outside, … Continue reading The FireKeeper is not gone, he Just Needs a New Hearth
Disclaimer: This post reflects personal experience and personal reflection. It is shared for educational and reflective purposes only and is not medical, psychological, or grief counselling advice. Memory changes, trauma responses, and symptoms following head injuries can have many causes. If you are struggling with memory loss, unresolved grief, emotional distress, or possible concussion-related issues, … Continue reading When the Soundtrack goes Missing
Some chapters in your life are meant to close without a proper ending. No summary of what just happened. No final conversation that clicks into place. No moment where the whole thing suddenly makes sense in a way that feels fair. Just a door that shuts. Whether it was a human-made choice or a choice … Continue reading The Silence After
Rebuilding the Timeline When Memory Is Chunky Oh, Standing on the ledge, rebuilding from the rubble. This is me continuing the “grand resets / pivot points” thread from yesterday — but this time I’m trying to do something more practical: put scattered memories into a timeline, even when the details are sketchy. I’ve got gaps. … Continue reading Grand Resets & Pivot Points (Part 2)
The author reflects on a less philosophical mindset and a sense of easing stress. While waiting on job responses and feeling unproductive, they contemplate the cycles in their life, including career shifts and personal losses. They express unresolved grief regarding relationships with their children, who are affected by separation.
Chapter 2 of "Standing on the Ledge" delves into the complexities of grief, highlighting the tendency to analyze pain as a means of avoidance. The author discusses how societal expectations encourage a composed facade, using analytical thinking as a defense mechanism. True healing requires confronting painful emotions rather than evading them through endless rumination.
Bargaining during grief involves rewriting the past to mitigate pain, often manifesting as “if only” thoughts that hinder healing. This counterfactual thinking can lead to rumination rather than learning. A healthier approach involves asking better questions that seek to understand patterns and conditions, focusing on actionable next steps rather than self-blame.
Standing on the Ledge 