Start Here: Welcome to Project Grief
Grief changes everything, often in ways we never expect.
The day my wife Ariana died, a part of me died with her. Diagnosed with terminal cancer on my 30th birthday, we spent the next five years in a heartbreaking limbo, never knowing which day might be her last.
When she passed on September 30, 2020—right in the pandemic’s grip—I was lost, scared, and utterly alone. Like so many, I wandered through life like a child, stumbling over failures and grasping at half-formed discoveries.
Most people try to “move on” from grief, burying the pain to survive. But I learned that’s the wrong path. Moving forward while honoring it takes intentional effort. It is the daily rituals that rebuild without erasing.
That’s what this space is for: to guide those who feel that truth in their bones, and the loved ones walking beside them, toward those very tools.
What You’ll Find Here
Blunt truths: about grief, without platitudes or “stay strong” clichés.
Stories: from my life as a widowed dad raising three kids through loss.
Practical guidance: for navigating the daily grind of grief: parenting, work, friendships, mental health.
Post-traumatic growth: not as toxic positivity, but as the messy, non-linear process of discovering who you are becoming.
Community: voices of grievers who refuse to walk this road alone.
Who I Write For
Newly bereaved, still shocked and searching for survival tools.
Year 1–3 grievers, realizing the second year can be harder than the first.
Widowed parents, juggling grief and parenting guilt.
Supporters and caregivers, trying to figure out what to actually say and do.
Leaders at work, who want to show up better for grieving employees.
If any of that feels like you, you’re in the right place.
Where to Begin
Here are a few posts to start with:
Join the Community
Every week I publish essays, notes, and practical reflections. Subscribers get it all free. Paid supporters (coming soon) will get extra deep dives, live sessions, and journaling tools.
Subscribe to receive Project Grief directly in your inbox.
And one more thing, don’t just read. Hit “reply” to any issue and share your story. That’s how this becomes more than words on a screen. That’s how we remind each other we’re not alone.
Final Note
Grief isn’t a problem to solve.
It’s a process to discover.
Together.
With love,
- CJ