Grief and the Wind Phone

Grief is a profound emotional response to loss, which includes feelings of sadness, despair, and longing. It's a natural and universal experience that can arise from various losses such as the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or even the loss of a job or a dream.

Grieving involves a complex process of adjusting to life without what was lost, navigating through stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and eventually acceptance. It's a deeply personal journey that varies widely among individuals, influenced by cultural norms, personal beliefs, and the nature of the loss itself.

I went through my own grief process after the loss of my soul dog in 2020 and shared my story with friends. The number of people that reciprocated by sharing their own personal stories of loss helped me feel more connected with, and supported by them. It wasn’t a suffering Olympics game, but rather, being able to hear the love in their recollections and knowing I wasn’t alone in how I felt (or crazy because it was “just a pet.")

I’m not sure if you’ve ever heard of a wind phone, when I discovered this concept, I knew I had to share it with you:

A wind phone is a concept originating from Japan which are typically old-fashioned telephone booths or structures set up in serene, natural settings such as gardens, hillsides, or coastlines. The idea behind a wind phone is to provide a place where people can go to connect with lost loved ones or to express their grief, thoughts, and emotions aloud.

Visitors to a wind phone are encouraged to pick up the receiver, speak into it, and share their feelings, memories, or messages with those they have lost. It serves as a therapeutic outlet for grieving individuals, offering a sense of comfort and closure through the act of verbalizing their emotions. The name "wind phone" symbolizes the idea that their words are carried away by the wind to reach their loved ones in another realm.

If you are experiencing and struggling with grief please reach out, ask for help, talk to a friend or an experienced professional that can guide you through the process. You're not alone.