Stretching Yourself in Grief
Finding Healing in the Quieting Days of August
For those experiencing complicated grief, time often feels distorted—either standing still or racing ahead without your consent. In August, as summer begins to exhale its last full breath, the world around us slowly starts to quiet. The heat lingers, but the light subtly shifts. Gardens begin to dry. Cicadas sing their steady chorus. Nature gives us signs that change is near.
And in this seasonal in-between, there is an invitation: to stretch yourself.
Not in a way that pushes or overwhelms, but in a way that gently nudges you from the stuck places. Just as the earth begins to lean toward autumn, you too can stretch—toward healing, toward hope, toward life after loss.
Understanding Complicated Grief
Complicated grief is more than prolonged mourning. It is grief that feels heavy and unmoving—entangled with trauma, guilt, or disbelief. While time marches forward, the inner world feels suspended in sorrow. The ability to function, connect, or imagine life beyond the loss can feel out of reach.
Therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provide effective tools for working with the thoughts and emotions that keep grief immobilized. Yet healing is not only a cognitive process—it is also a bodily, sensory, spiritual one. This is where nature, especially in the summer’s late season, can offer a parallel path.
August’s Subtle Invitation
August is a bridge month—one foot in the fullness of summer, the other leaning toward the letting go as we move towards the season of autumn. I, for one, am ready to let go of the heat and embrace cooler days. August is not the bright burst of June or the hurried harvest of September. Instead, August asks us to pause, to listen, and—if we are able—to stretch ourselves gently beyond where we’ve been.
For those in complicated grief, August offers:
- Permission to Slow Down: The long, hot days mirror the emotional fatigue of grieving. Nature doesn’t ask us to rush—it models a soft slowing down.
- An Invitation to Expand: The sky stretches wide in August, the fields open, the trees full. This spaciousness reminds us that even when pain feels consuming, there is still room to grow around it.
- Moments to Move Gently: Whether it’s a late summer walk, a barefoot moment on warm grass, or sitting beneath a shade tree, August invites physical and emotional stretching—without force.
Stretching Yourself in Grief
Stretching in grief is not about “getting over it.” It’s about making space for movement—however small. It might mean allowing a new thought, revisiting a place you’ve avoided, or opening yourself to moments of stillness instead of distraction.
Here are ways to stretch yourself during this month:
· Stretch Toward Presence: Sit outside during the cooler parts of the day. Let the sensations of August—cicada hums, warm breezes, late blooms—anchor you in the now. Presence breaks the cycle of rumination.
- Stretch Your Narrative: Complicated grief often centers on thoughts of “I’ll never be okay again.” Begin to gently question that. Could there be a both/and? “I miss them deeply, and I am still here.”
- Stretch Your Body with Intention: Try restorative movement—yoga, walking, even simply placing your bare feet on the grass and breathing deeply. Our bodies hold grief; grounding yourself physically can soften what feels emotionally rigid.
- Stretch into Expression: Journal beneath the August sky. Write about what you wish you could say to your loved one. Speak their name aloud. Create space for what has remained unspoken.
Pairing Nature and Cognitive Healing
CBT helps shift thought patterns that keep grief stuck in suffering. But pairing it with the natural rhythms of the earth gives that healing a place to land. Nature becomes a co-therapist—patient, nonjudgmental, and always evolving. Consider this: each day in August, notice something that is changing. Then, write one way you’re allowing change in yourself. Even if the change is microscopic, it matters. You are stretching.
You Don’t Have to Stretch Far
Grief will never be neat or linear, especially the kind that roots deep into your soul. But healing does not require grand gestures. Stretching yourself might mean saying yes to a walk, to a support group, to silence, to tears.
Like the earth in August, you are allowed to slow down. You are allowed to grow, even while carrying your grief. At Hope Grows, we believe that healing happens in layers, and in rhythm with nature. As summer winds down, may you find space to stretch—gently, honestly, and in your own time.
You are not alone on this path.
If you or someone you love is navigating complicated grief, our counseling services are here to help you stretch toward healing, one small step at a time. Consider visiting the Iris Respite House and Healing Gardens, or call us at 412-369-HOPE (4673) to get signed up for individual counseling or one of our support groups.
Written by Lisa Story, MSCP, LPC, CT
Founder & Clinical Director
Focus of the Month | Stretch Yourself
Flower of the Month | Protea
Essential Oil of the Month | Clary Sage