BOOK: The Rest We Deserve: Grief and the Lessons of Winter.

Grief has a way of making us feel like we must keep moving, as though stopping for even a moment might let it consume us entirely. But that’s not how nature works, and it’s not how we work either. Just as the seasons shift, there’s a time for everything – even rest. Especially rest.

Winter is the perfect teacher. Look around in those quiet months when the earth seems to exhale. The trees let go of their leaves, standing bare against the cold. The animals retreat into dens, conserving their energy. And the snow blankets everything, muffling the world, offering a moment of stillness. Winter is not barren—it’s restorative. It’s a time for gathering strength for preparing to bloom again when the time is right.

Grief is its own kind of winter. It strips us bare, exposing our raw selves. But like the trees, we’re not lifeless—we’re regenerating. Beneath the surface, unseen roots are strengthening. This time of stillness is essential. It’s not a weakness to stop, to sit with your grief, and allow the quiet to do its work. It’s self-preservation.

Give yourself permission to rest. Let grief move at its own pace, just as winter yields only when spring is ready to take the stage. Rejuvenation doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen. When the time comes, you’ll feel the first gentle stirrings of new life within you—a glimmer of warmth after the cold.

Honor your seasons, even the hard ones. Rest when you need to. Trust that this time of quiet renewal is shaping you for what comes next.

The Rest We Deserve: Grief and the Lessons of Winter By Sheila M. Burke, End-of-Life Doula 2025 free ebook when you sign up for my newsletter. Available in print on Amazon.