Valentine’s heart— #griefheart number 217
Several years ago, the pain in my heart from losing my son Charles to suicide was so intense, I needed a way to manage the pain and lessen the suffering. This is a creative exploration of my grieving heart through pictures.
While it didn’t make the pain go away, it helped to have something to scan for daily. From this idea, the #griefheart project was born. That task alone really did give me purpose and meaning.
Here’s what I didn’t expect
Unexpected was the outpouring and sharing of hearts across the world. People would send me their photos as they were scanning their environment every day.
I didn’t expect that by doing this project I’d connect with so many others who were hurting at the same time. This left me feeling connected instead of isolated in my grief. It helped me process the loss through a creative endeavor which was a healing journey.
As you can imagine, when you post daily, not every idea is fantastic. But in this project, there are some enduring images I’ve used over the years, gone back to on hard times, and many times used on a card I send to someone grieving a loss. (An example of that is the last one on this page.)
These are some of my favorites
Since there are hundreds, I only included the ones I did but here are all the #griefhearts on Pinterest. People sent lovely hearts in honor of their loved ones and their pain.
Since this helped me and millions of others work through their grief and loss, maybe it will work for you. Click on the image to go to the post about that heart.
In memory of Charles Aubrey Rogers, 1995-2015, the kid with the biggest heart.
Heart Full of Love – #griefheart number 2
Love you to the moon and back – #griefheart number 84
Heart Wrenching – #griefheart number 18
Shredded heart – #griefheart number 63
Heavy Heart- #griefheart number 15
Stormy heart – #griefheart 68
I tell a story related to this one.
Carry him in my heart – #griefheart number 114
Love you oodles, piles and truckloads – #griefheart number 99
Grateful Heart – #griefheart number 6
Stop the pain in my heart – #griefheart 71
Hurting Heart – #griefheart number 5
Love you this much – #griefheart number 165
Death Anniversary Heart– #griefheart number 56
Street Heart – #griefheart number 39
Grateful Heart – #griefheart number 6
Pizza Party Heart– #griefheart number 57
This one is because tribe member and local friend Steven went to the trouble of making a heart-shaped pizza in honor of this project.
Crying Heart – #griefheart number 38
Happy Birthday Heart – #griefheart number 16
Deflated Heart – #griefheart number 28
Prickly Heart – #griefheart number 41
Healing heart valentine— #griefheart number 277
A couple of others…..
I lost my sister Valerie Studabaker to Covid January 1, 2022. I’m heartbroken. She was only 50.
Sherry. I am so sorry. I know your grief would still be very raw at this point. Fifty is too young to die. What was her name? Can you share a little about her?