We all have our own way of grieving

CELEBRATION Day took place on Monday, May 26. It was a day dedicated to honour the lives of loved ones who have died.

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The national day began in 2022 and was inspired by traditions such as the Mexican Day of the Dead. In Mexico people are remembered in a positive way rather than a sombre one.

I’m somewhat surprised that we need a day to mark those people whose lives have impacted on ours and are no longer with us. I like the saying “You're not dead until you're forgotten”. I think it’s true. So perhaps that means that once you're forgotten, healing has taken place and life moves on.

According to a recent report based on a survey of 2,000 adults, a third of Britons feel guilty opening up about their feelings about death. They don’t want to burden others with their feelings.

Maybe it's because people feel embarrassed about sharing their emotions or becoming emotional. Or maybe it’s because they don’t want other people seeing them. When we lost our son aged five-and-a-half I can remember people I had known quite well actively cross the street to avoid us.

A girlfriend who had spent much of her time living with us disappeared like snow in the sunshine when the same son had been taken critically ill.

It's strange, because the only thing certain in life is death. It’s become a subject, for many, more difficult to talk about than sex or money.