This Too Shall Pass: Reflections on Grief, Healing, and the Fleeting Nature of Life

It was during my sister's funeral. I had an unexpected epiphany about the transient nature of our emotions. As I sat there, consumed by grief, a random thought crossed my mind: green chile burrito. In that moment of absurd hunger, I realized that life continues to move forward even in our most profound suffering. This experience taught me a profound lesson about the impermanence of all things - a lesson that echoes ancient wisdom.

The Wisdom of Solomon's Ring

There's an ancient story that has always stayed with me, one about Solomon's ring. It is said that King Solomon, in his infinite wisdom, sought a way to remind himself of life's impermanence. He asked his advisors to craft a ring with an inscription that would hold power no matter the situation, whether he was riding the heights of happiness or the depths of despair. The inscription they chose was simple yet profound: This too shall pass. Those four words contain a wisdom that transcends time. They've carried people through extreme joy, grounding them, and lifted others from the darkest depths of sorrow, offering hope. As we observe World Mental Health Day today, I reflect on how these words resonate in our shared human experience, especially regarding our mental and emotional well-being.

The Weight of Mental Health

Mental health is something we all carry with us every day, often in ways we might not even realize. Some days, it's light; others, it feels impossibly heavy. I've known both intimately—both in my work as a pediatric hospice nurse, sitting with families as they said their final goodbyes to their children, and in my own life, particularly when I lost my kid sister.

A Personal Journey Through Grief

It's been 25 years since her death, and the grief still lingers in places I sometimes least expect. I remember the weight of that time, feeling as though I was drowning in a sea of sorrow. What made it worse was the guilt I carried—I had let her call go to voicemail the day of her death, too consumed with whatever I was in the middle of to answer. That guilt added layers to my grief, and there were days I didn't know how to carry it all.

The Unexpected Moment of Clarity

But there was this moment—during her funeral of all places—when something shifted, something so small yet so significant. It was entirely random, but in the middle of the service, a thought crossed my mind as we were honoring her life: green chile burrito. And just like that, I felt hungry. It was so absurd, so entirely out of place, that it startled me. How could I possibly be thinking about food, of all things? I was supposed to be lost in grief, overwhelmed by the weight of the moment. But there it was—the thought, the hunger, the human need for something as simple and basic as nourishment. That split second shifted something inside of me. It made me realize how transient our thoughts and feelings really are. One moment, I was consumed by loss, and the next, a completely unrelated thought crossed my mind. It was a reminder that even in our most profound suffering, our minds and bodies are still moving through life. Our thoughts create feelings, and just like the waves on water, those feelings rise and fall. They come and go.

The Lesson in Impermanence

That burrito thought was my first glimpse that maybe, just maybe, I would get through this. It was a small, strange sign that life was still happening, even in the midst of my grief. And it showed me that emotions are like passing clouds, no matter how overwhelming. They shift. They change. If we wait long enough, the light reappears, even if it's just a fleeting glimmer. Sometimes, in the heaviest moments, we don't need to know how to make it through the next day, week, or year. We just need to know that this moment, as unbearable as it might seem, will pass. It's something I've carried with me through years of doing bereavement counseling—holding space for families to grieve, reminding them that the overwhelming weight they feel now won't last forever. There will be light again. Or, at the very least, the random thought of a burrito.

Embracing Life's Ebb and Flow

And that's where the beauty lies. The fleeting nature of things doesn't mean we're at the mercy of change—it means we're alive in it. It means there is a tomorrow, no matter how dark today might feel. And no matter how high the mountain in front of us seems, we can climb it, one step at a time.

A Call to Reflection and Action

On World Mental Health Day, I invite you to reflect. Reflect on the times you've been brought low and how, in time, you rose again. Reflect on the days you thought would never end and how you eventually found your way out. And perhaps most importantly, reflect on the fact that we don't have to do this alone. So many resources, people, and communities are ready to help guide us when the road feels overwhelming. If you're struggling today, please know you don't have to carry it all by yourself. Reach out, speak up, and ask for help. And remember: this moment, however painful or difficult, will not last forever. Light is beyond the clouds, even when you can't see it. For those feeling strong today, reach out to those who may not be. Sometimes, just the act of sitting with someone in their silence can be a lifeline.

Nurturing Our Mental Health

As we honor this day, I'm reminded that mental health is not something to be fixed or perfected—it's something to be cared for. Just as we tend to our physical health, our mental health requires attention, patience, and compassion for ourselves and others. We're all on this journey together, navigating the ebb and flow of life's tides. And no matter where you are today—whether singing with joy or holding back tears—trust that you're exactly where you need to be. In the end, whether facing our darkest hour or our brightest day, we can find solace in those four timeless words: This too shall pass. It's a reminder of our resilience, our capacity for healing, and the ever-changing nature of our human experience. So hold on, breathe deep, and remember - like all others, this moment is fleeting. And in that impermanence lies our greatest strength.