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Grief has a way of becoming part of your everyday rhythm.
It’s not something you move past.
It’s something you learn to live with. That’s what I’ve been learning lately, how to live with grief daily, one small act at a time.
I lost my Dad recently. His passing arrived during a major transition in my life. I had just moved into a new career in education, which gave me the rare gift of eight weeks off during the summer. I didn’t know it at the time, but that space would become sacred. It gave me the chance to sit with my grief instead of rushing past it. To listen to what I needed. To reconnect with parts of myself I had been neglecting — especially the creative part, and the inner child I had buried beneath responsibility.
I’ve experienced grief before. I lost one of my best friends over a decade ago. I’ve walked with friends and family through the loss of parents, siblings, and loved ones. But this chapter with my Dad felt different. It asked me to slow down. To soften. To rebuild, but not all at once.
I’ve always been someone who searches for meaning.
Over the years, I’ve explored all kinds of ways to check in with myself — from spiritual routines to personality frameworks to anything that helped me feel like I had a map.
There’s nothing wrong with that. Structure can feel like safety when the world feels chaotic.
But during this season of loss, I didn’t want another system to interpret.
I didn’t need a guidebook to tell me how I was feeling.
I didn’t want to analyze my life — I just wanted to live it.
What I needed was stillness.
Quiet.
Space to just be.
Because when the water is F’n cloudy, you don’t keep stirring it!
You set it down.
You let it settle.
This year, my chosen theme has been creativity.
Not productivity.
Not perfection.
Just expression.
Color.
Trying things without needing them to be profound.
I wanted to reconnect with the part of me that creates without pressure. That feels things fully. That makes space for both sadness and self-discovery.
This season also brought the second closure of my physical Flowology location. That experience reminded me of the first time I closed it, when I realized I couldn’t keep promoting peace while feeling consumed by the pressure to produce and sell.
It felt unauthentic. It felt performative.
I want peace that feels lived in, not packaged.
I still believe we can live well without escaping reality.
We can carry grief and creativity at the same time.
We can show up without needing to be whole.
These are eight tools that have been helping me grieve in real-time. They’re not solutions. They’re small grief coping strategies that keep me soft, present, and open, even when the days are heavy. Below are a list of my tools:
1. A Notebook for the Thoughts I Don’t Say Out Loud.
This isn’t a gratitude journal or a planner. It’s not for vision boarding. It’s for releasing the weight I carry in my chest. I don’t write perfectly. Sometimes I just write, “Today was heavy since the lost of my father.” Other days I rant. Either way, it’s my space to grieve without judgment. I do this everyday I am emotional up for it and it has been very therapeutic. I got this colorful notebook because I often get simple or plain notebooks. I wanted this one to have some extra pizzazz to it. Notebook: CLICK HERE
2. Incense That Helps Me Shift the Mood
I light incense when I need a quick lift or want to shift the energy in my home. It’s not always about ritual or meaning. Sometimes, it’s just a way to refresh the air, mark a transition in my day, or soften a heavy moment. The scent lingers in the best way… grounding, familiar, and comforting. Lighting it is a quick way to reset the atmosphere and remind myself I deserve to feel good in my space. Incense: CLICK HERE
3. Diamond Painting for Quiet Focus
When my mind gets too loud, I turn to diamond puzzles. My daughter is the one who suggested this as an activity we can do together. Placing one tiny gem at a time my nervous system stay calm. It’s a form of rest that still gives me structure. This is one of my easy go-to daily grief tools… quiet, visual, and slow. Diamond Puzzles: CLICK HERE (6 Pack)
4. Doing My Eyelashes
I started doing my lashes again because honestly, I had been crying so much. And even though I was off for the summer and didn’t have to get ready for the day, I wanted to feel like I was choosing myself each morning.
It wasn’t about needing to look put together. It was about wanting to feel like I was still showing up — even if it was just for me.
I started playing with different lash styles too, like fun Manga lashes that gave me just enough flair to feel creative again. Something small, something soft, something that made me feel a little more like me. I always get compliments when I wear this style now. Eyelashes: CLICK HERE
Photo Credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich
5. Adding Color Back to My Wardrobe
I had been wearing mostly black for weeks. No styling. No accessories. Just whatever felt easiest to throw on. But one day, I pulled out a bold dress in pink, orange, and yellow and wore it around the house. I wasn’t going anywhere, but I felt lighter.
That moment reminded me that color can shift how I feel, even when no one else sees it.
Now I let myself reach for clothes that feel expressive. A cozy outfit with color. A little jewelry, even if I am just at home. These choices help me reconnect with the version of me that still wants to feel something. Warmth. Brightness. Softness. They remind me that I have not disappeared inside the grief.
Photo Credit: Shadell Clark
6. A Camper Puzzle
Like the diamond puzzle, this one helped me sit still and keep my hands busy. But the camper puzzle surprised me in a different way. It’s a little more challenging, but something about it felt nostalgic. It reminded me of being a little girl, playing with Barbie and her camping set, imagining entire worlds in a small space.
This puzzle made me smile when I didn’t expect to. It felt playful and light, which was a relief in the middle of everything heavy. Sometimes we just need a small reminder that joy is still allowed, even when life is hard. This puzzle gave me that moment. Camper Puzzle: CLICK HERE
7. Coloring
I picked up a few simple coloring books I saw on TikTok, but what I’ve enjoyed most is finding quiet YouTube videos and following along. I usually color while watching or listening, and I don’t try to make anything perfect. I’m not coloring to complete something. I’m coloring to feel present.
At first, I didn’t think the type of markers mattered. But they do. Using better quality markers gives the colors more richness, and it turns the whole experience into something calming and satisfying. They’ve been worth the investment.
I don’t approach it like I’m making art. I just add color to paper. The motion helps. The silence helps. And the lack of pressure is exactly what I need right now. Grab a simple coloring book if you prefer structure. Markers: CLICK HERE
Photo Credit: Pixabay
8. Organizing to Unblock Stagnant Energy
started by organizing my closet and jewelry, which made it easier to actually wear color and add accessories again. Some days, I have the energy for a bigger project. Other days, I just clean out a single drawer. Either way, it’s a win. Each small effort helps me move some of the stuck energy around me.
Grief can feel like everything is in disarray, inside and out. When I can’t control what I’m feeling, I can still choose to bring order to one small space. It reminds me that I still have influence over my environment, and sometimes that’s enough to help me breathe easier.
I hate to admit I did invest in multiple organizing bins and separators. It was worth it so that I could keep the space organized versus falling apart a week later. 🙂
Jewelry Organizer: CLICK HERE
Photo Credit: Pixabay
Final Thoughts
I don’t have a map for this grief journey. I don’t have a timeline or a five-step guide. But I do have these tools. And I return to them not because they fix me, but because they keep me company while I figure out how to carry this loss.
These habits might not be life-changing on their own. But together, they help me grieve while still being creative. They let me move through sorrow without getting stuck. They give me structure on days when nothing makes sense.
If you’re navigating loss, or just trying to feel like yourself again, I hope something on this list gives you a small breath of space.
You don’t have to be okay to be present.
You just have to begin.
Theresa Felix
Disclosure
I am a participant in the Amazon Associates affiliate program. This means I may earn a small commission if you click on the product links in this post and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support my work.
Please note: I am not a licensed therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. Everything shared here is based on my personal experience. If you are struggling with intense grief or emotional distress, please seek the support of a qualified professional.
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