For many, this time of year brings sunshine, fireworks, cookouts, and family road trips. But for those of us grieving, this time of year can also stir up a quiet ache—an empty chair at the picnic table, a missing laugh during the fireworks, or a favorite song on the radio that brings memories rushing in.

I recently came across a reflection by Jeff O’Dell, a bereavement coordinator at Crossroads Hospice. In it, he shared a call with a grieving daughter who was heartbroken over the 4th of July. Her father—a veteran who adored the holiday—had passed, and now her family was arguing over how (or even whether) to celebrate. “July 4th was our family day,” she said. And suddenly, what once brought joy only brought pain and disconnection.

This story reminded me how easily summer can surprise us with grief. We tend to brace ourselves for the “hard” holidays—Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother’s and Father’s Day, to name a few. But summer comes quietly, and with it, memories: vacations, traditions, backyard rituals. Even the smell of sunscreen or the taste of homemade ice cream can catch us off guard.

So if you’re feeling out of sync this summer—surrounded by celebration but carrying sorrow—you are not alone.

Grief looks different for everyone. Some may need fireworks and laughter to feel connected. Others may need solitude and silence. Either way, it’s okay. There’s no “right“ way to honor your person or your pain.

What matters is permitting yourself to feel, to remember, and to heal in your own time.

Maybe this summer, your way of remembering looks like lighting a sparkler in their honor. Or quietly journaling their favorite memories. Or simply sitting in the sun and letting yourself miss them.

As so wisely written, “We only grieve when we have loved—and we love deeply.”

If you’d like to share a summer memory of someone, we’d be honored to hear it. Feel free to comment or message us directly.

Wishing you moments of peace, even in the warmth of missing.

With heart,

Fran