I recently listened to All There Is with Anderson Cooper, where he spoke with Will Reeve, the son of the late actor Christopher Reeve—known to the world as Superman. But to Will, he was simply “Dad.” Will was only 12 years old when his father passed away in 2004, and just two years later, in 2006, his mother, Dana Reeve, also died. (the show’s description edited)
To be honest, I cried listening to Will’s grace and eloquence as he shared his experience of “living with the wound” of such profound loss. I lost my mom when I was 50 years old, and it has taken me a decade to learn how to “live with the wound.” Losing a parent is life-altering. It creates a clear delineation on your life’s timeline—how life was before and how it is forever after.
I also live with the wound of losing my first pregnancy, an ectopic, the day before Thanksgiving. That tender, underlying ache often resurfaces in the most unexpected moments. Grief has a way of rushing in—sometimes it’s fleeting, like a wave that shakes you, and other times it lingers, gripping you until the strategies and tools you’ve learned can help you regain your footing. The wound doesn’t go away; instead, you learn to live with it. You recognize it, and in some uncanny way, you coexist with both the pain and its familiarity.
During the conversation, Will Reeve described his “long journey into grief” that offered both comfort and heartbreak. I think we all know that road—the long journey of grief when you no longer recognize yourself, when you’ve lost an ideal of life. One of my unforgettable fertility clients once described it as “the loss of innocence forever.”
My Uncle Tom, a Marine and a decorated helicopter pilot who once commanded a major military base, offered me wisdom during one of my hardest days. He said, “Remember, life is a marathon, not a sprint.”
Perhaps it was his Marine mindset—the training to endure, to prepare for the long haul. It’s a reminder that grief, like life, is a marathon. It’s a journey we take without knowing exactly where it will lead, how it will feel, or what it will require of us to survive and cope.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by grief, I encourage you to reach out. Whether it’s for a conversation, creating a nurturing plan to support yourself, or simply having a companion on your long journey—I am here.
With my gift of a free 30-minute session is a confidential space to explore what’s on your mind. Whether you’re feeling stuck or seeking clarity, you’ll leave with support, insight, and a next step forward.
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