Our society often struggles to support grievers because it is something we’ve never been taught, nor is it something we’re comfortable about. We’ve traditionally been taught to value positivity and forward momentum, so grief—which is unpredictable, and nonlinear—doesn’t fit neatly into those expectations. Because of this, we say nothing, offer sayings like “Time heals all wounds” or avoid the griever altogether out of fear of saying the wrong thing. There’s also a cultural tendency to treat grief as something with a timeline, when in reality it lingers and evolves, leaving grievers feeling isolated once the initial wave of support fades. On top of that, death and loss are often kept at a distance in modern life, making grief feel unfamiliar and even taboo. All of this creates a gap between what grievers need—presence, patience, and permission to feel —and what society is prepared to give.