Healing Doesn’t Mean Forgetting – It Means Remembering With Grace
Weekly Blog Reflection by Kylie Welch
I am not a fan of grief, loss and trauma, but have traversed the journey, nonetheless. They are the kind of companion that we never invite to join us, but they tend to invite themselves and it takes a while to learn how to navigate life with them. These things may soften with time, but they find ways to whisper in quiet moments—through a song, a scent, a birthday, name or place. This week, I found myself revisiting some of those quiet spaces. Not because I planned to, simply because someone asked me an innocent question.
It triggered me so I created a resource to help me reflect. I published my own Significant Life Events journal pages—not as a creator this time, but as someone who needed to process a memory that had resurfaced. I was surprised by how much was still tucked inside, unspoken just from a memory that I revisited. Writing it out didn’t fully erase the ache, but it helped transform it. It reminded me that pain processed becomes wisdom, and wounds tended to with care become places of growth.
It also reminded me about what inspired In Honour of Grief—a book I wrote as both a companion and a comfort for all of us who are grieving the loss of a loved one, friendship or significant thing.
Here’s a list of significant life events and traumas—both commonly recognised and deeply personal—that might shape a person’s story and emotional landscape.
Significant Life Events
These moments may be joyful, challenging, or simply life-altering:
Getting married or divorced, Becoming a parent or grandparent, Moving to a new city or country, Changing careers or losing a job, Starting or ending a significant relationship, Graduating from school or completing a major goal, Receiving a diagnosis (physical or mental health), Surviving a natural disaster, Achieving a major dream or goal, Retirement or entering a new life stage, Spiritual awakening or faith crisis, Receiving unexpected news, Reconnecting with someone after years apart.
Traumas or Deep Losses
These often carry emotional weight and long-lasting impact:
The death of a loved one (family, friend, partner, beloved pet), Childhood abuse or neglect, Being in or witnessing a serious accident, Miscarriage, stillbirth, or infertility, Domestic violence or toxic relationships, Living through addiction (yours or someone else's), Chronic illness, Medical trauma or long hospital stays, Bullying, harassment, or sustained emotional abuse, Witnessing or experiencing war or violence, Experiencing abandonment or adoption, Sudden betrayal or deep personal loss, Experiencing poverty or homelessness, Having to care for a loved one with declining health, Enduring a traumatic breakup or separation.
Quiet Yet Life-Shaping Events
These aren’t always labelled “trauma,” but deeply affect us:
Feeling invisible in your family growing up, Having to grow up too fast, Being the “strong one” for everyone else, Suppressing dreams or identity for acceptance, Navigating a long season of loneliness or illness, Realising you’ve outgrown people or parts of your life, Losing a sense of purpose or identity, Crisis of faith. Finding the courage to start again.
If you—or someone you love—is navigating loss or healing from something significant, and because I have walked through many of these, I have created these resources with intention and compassion:
👉 In Honour of Grief: Embracing Life After Loss
A personal guide through the seasons of grief, designed to bring comfort and calm when words are hard to find.
👉 Significant Life Events Journal Pages
A printable reflection tool to help process major turning points, rediscover strength, and reclaim meaning from your story.
If you’re reading this and carrying something heavy, I want you to know—you’re not alone. Your memories matter. Your healing is possible. And your story is still being written, one day at a time.
Kylie x