One of the most common questions people ask after losing someone is, "Shouldn't I be over this by now?" It's a question that often comes from a place of frustration, shame, or the feeling that everyone else has moved on while you're still carrying the weight of your loss. We often receive subtle (and sometimes direct) messages that grief has an expiration date, that after a few weeks or months we should be "back to normal."

The world is reeling from the recent tragedy of the July 4th Guadalupe River floods. Idyllic family vacations and summer camp experiences instantly became nightmares.