Grief Blog — Forced Joy Project

Moving after Loss

I sat crosslegged on the floor of the loft. The loft that used to be ours but now was just mine. It was empty, except for the beer can that sat in front of me and the disco ball in the corner. But even in its emptiness, the space felt so very full by the life that was lived within those four walls.

Grief Chats: Big Moves While Grieving

How do you know whether or not you should move? Is it a practical or emotional decision? Do you leave just your home or the city completely? In this episode, we talk about all the complexities of whether or not to move.

How to Support a Grieving Friend

It is inevitable we will show up in the wrong way and say the wrong thing. That’s part of being human. But that doesn’t mean we stop trying.

Dana FrostMarch 30, 2021grief support, grief, grief resources, Widowhood, loss, grief guideComment

House Anniversary

A year ago, I walked into a sun-filled house and said out loud to my friend and realtor, “this is my home.”

Looking back it was a presumptuous and naive statement to make for a house that was over my budget in a vacation town where homes were scooped up within a day after multiple offers presented. Under normal circumstances, I would have never gotten that house.

Dana FrostMarch 22, 2021Moving Forward, moving after loss, Widowhood, widow, young widow, grief, grief supportComment

Grief Chats: Q&A: Grief, Sex, and Dating

We asked and you all delivered! In this follow up episode, we answer all your burning questions about the emotional rollercoaster that is sex and dating as a widow.

Dana FrostMarch 18, 2021grief chats, grief, grief and loss, grief support, widowhood, young widow, cancer widow, dating and widowhoodComment

Grief Chats: Grief, Sex, and Dating

In this episode, we talk about all the complexities of grief, sex, and dating, including: The stigma and expectations of dating after loss The guilt and fears that may arise as you begin to explore your sexuality The need to release societal pressure on what is “normal” in sex and dating as a widow/griever.

Fuck Fine

“I’m fine.”

I’ll say it again.

“I’m fine.”

I’ve said it so many times you start to believe it. I’ve said it so many times, maybe I’ll start to believe it.

Dana FrostFebruary 25, 2021fuck fine, grief, grief and loss, widowhood, young widow, death, survivor, cancer widow, grief supportComment

Grief Chats: How Grief Changes Friendships

There’s no denying that grief changes our relationships - sometimes for the better, but oftentimes for the worse. In today’s episode, we talk about some of the most common reasons friends disappear after a traumatic loss and how we deal with these secondary losses. We also discuss a few of the beautiful ways a friendship can strengthen and grow in grief.

Dana FrostFebruary 18, 2021grief chats, grief, grief and loss, grief support, friendship loss, widowhood, young widow, cancer widow, dating and widowhoodComment

Grief Groups, Sex, and Jesus Guilt

I was a mourning widow and I was a 30-something with a desire to be touched. The latter felt like a betrayal to the former. I felt like a horrible human being and an even worse wife.

Grief Chats: Our Grief Illiterate Society

How can you possibly know what to say to someone who is grieving? And what things should you try not to say? What do we mean when we say that our society is “grief illiterate?” In today’s episode, we talk about the importance of having the hard conversations about grief, death, and loss, specifically within the context of widespread grief illiteracy.

Dana FrostFebruary 5, 2021Comment

4 Year Deathiversary

4 years ago, my life changed forever. With one hand gripping my leg and the other safely tucked in my palm, Brad’s heart stopped beating. The memory - and trauma - of that day lives deep in my bones. Although it’s gentler now. Less harsh. It’s more settled and comfortable in my body.

Dana FrostJanuary 22, 2021young widow, Widowhood, widowhood, cancer widow, grief and loss, deathiversary, grief resources, grief support, griefComment

Grief Chats: How We Became Young Widows

Grief Chats Episode 1 is here! Find out why in the world we wanted to host a video series about traumatic grief and widowhood. Who are we anyways? What are our stories? How did we become young widows and survivors of traumatic loss?

Dana FrostJanuary 21, 2021Grief Chats, grief, Widowhood, widow, young widow, loss, life after loss, grief supportComment

Opioid Dreams

So much of Brad’s final days were unimaginably awful. Between the cancer raging through his body, his organs shutting down, and the high level of pain meds, his brilliant mind was starting to mimic his crumbling body.

Dana FrostJanuary 15, 2021Comment

12 Days of Griefmas

For 12 days, I'll be sharing about both my experience with the different stages of grief as well as ways we can cope. I'll also be sharing both my fav small businesses and gift ideas to help those struggling during the difficult holiday season.

Dana FrostNovember 29, 2020holidays, widow, widowhood, young widow, surviving the holidays, holidays and grief, giveawayComment

Vote For Your Life

4 years ago, on Election Day, Brad and I broke out of the hospital to vote.

Dana FrostNovember 2, 2020vote, vote 2020, cancer, stage 4 cancer, young widow Comment

Imagine You Have 100 Days to Live

Imagine thinking you have decades of life left. Plenty of time to take that trip or write that book or watch that sunrise. But you don’t have a bottomless supply of tomorrows. You have today. Right now. And if you’re lucky - tomorrow.

Dana FrostOctober 13, 2020cancer, kidney cancer, terminal diagnosis, stage 4 cancer, widow, widowhoodComment

It's Not Me, It's You

Today I got dumped by my doctor. Well, maybe not dumped per say - it was more like a “we should see other people” situation. But either way, it was a blow to my ego and a conversation I was not expecting.

Dana FrostJuly 6, 2020cancer, chronic illness, doctor, widow, WidowhoodComment