3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months

Somehow knowing my own timeline for the really intense part of grief helps me, so sharing in case it helps you too. This is completely made up by me, but I think of it as 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months.

The first 3 days are the absolute worst for me, like crying literally everywhere grief. Then it’s still bad for about 3 weeks, but slightly more survivable. And then around 3 months, it usually starts to shift into a grief that feels more livable. Obviously it doesn’t mean you’re “over it” after 3 months. I couldn’t even look at photos of my cat for a couple years without absolutely bawling. But having those little markers helped me when everything felt endless.

And honestly, talking to an animal psychic was the final bit of closure I needed after my cat died. She told me he really loved being a cat and couldn’t wait to have another life as a cat. All his memories of being alive with me were super happy, and he literally didn’t even remember dying. He was just ready to go on and become another cat.

I know that might sound completely bonkers depending on what you believe, but somehow it comforted me so much.