How Do You Accept That He Is Gone? Navigating Grief and Healing

Grieving the Loss: A Process, Not an Event

Well, let’s be honest here. Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things you’ll ever go through. When it happens, you’re thrown into a whirlwind of emotions that can feel endless. I remember the first time I lost someone really close to me—it felt like time stopped, and the world just kept moving forward without me. How could I possibly move on? How do you accept that he is gone? These are the questions that ran through my mind for months, maybe even years. But trust me, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and everyone’s grieving process is deeply personal.

But if you’re reading this because you’re struggling with the same question, let me share what I’ve learned along the way. The path to accepting loss is never easy, but it is possible to find a way forward, even if it feels impossible right now.

Understanding Grief: It's Okay to Feel

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Honestly, grief isn’t something that just happens in a linear way. It’s messy. One moment you’ll feel angry, the next you might feel relief, and then you can be hit with sadness that makes you feel like you're drowning. I’ve been there, and it’s exhausting. At first, you might even question your own emotions—why do I feel happy one minute and crushed the next?

A few months after my friend passed, I was having a good day, joking with a colleague at work, and suddenly I thought of something funny my friend used to say, and I felt guilty for laughing. It felt wrong to move forward while he wasn’t here anymore. But over time, I realized that grief doesn’t need to be sad all the time, and it’s okay to feel joy even while mourning.

The Stages of Grief

You’ve probably heard of the "stages of grief" (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance). And yes, they exist, but it’s important to remember they don’t happen in a set order, and some might come back at different times. Sometimes, I’d be stuck in anger or sadness for longer than I wanted, but eventually, I’d move forward. Understanding that this process takes time was a huge relief for me—it didn’t mean I was failing at grieving, it meant I was healing in my own way and on my own timeline.

Finding Meaning in the Loss

How to Honor Their Memory

One of the hardest things to accept is the finality of someone being gone. Honestly, the thought that I would never see my friend’s face or hear their voice again hit me hard. Over time, though, I realized that I didn’t have to let go of everything about them. It’s possible to carry their memory with you, not as a source of pain, but as a source of strength.

For me, creating small rituals in their memory helped. Writing letters, sharing stories with friends who knew them, and even visiting places that mattered to them became a way to feel connected. Honoring their life in a way that felt right for me made the loss feel a little less overwhelming.

Embracing the Changes in Your Life

Well, here's the thing: losing someone often leaves a massive hole in your life. But it can also make room for growth. I didn’t expect it, but over time, I started realizing that this loss forced me to reevaluate my priorities. What was important to me? How did I want to live my life moving forward? These big questions became part of my healing process.

A few years ago, I had a conversation with a friend who had lost a loved one. They shared how this person’s passing actually changed the way they approached their own life—taking more risks, not waiting for tomorrow to do things they loved. That really hit home for me and made me think about how I was choosing to live in honor of my friend.

Seeking Support: You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Finding Comfort in Others

Honestly, one of the hardest parts of accepting that someone is gone is the loneliness that can follow. I remember feeling so isolated, even though I had people around me. Don’t be afraid to lean on others—whether it’s friends, family, or even a support group. Sharing the burden of your grief with others can help you feel less alone. I reached out to friends who had gone through similar experiences, and it made a world of difference.

Talking about your feelings, even the messy ones, is part of healing. Don’t bottle it up. I found comfort in just saying their name aloud, remembering the good times we had, and letting others share their own stories too.

Seeking Professional Help

In some cases, if the pain feels unbearable, it might be helpful to talk to a counselor or therapist. I hesitated at first, not knowing if it was necessary, but it really helped me get perspective. Grief counseling can provide tools to cope and help you make sense of the overwhelming emotions. If you feel like you’re stuck or unable to move forward, reaching out for professional support can be a sign of strength, not weakness.

Taking Small Steps Toward Acceptance

Accepting What You Cannot Change

There will come a point in your journey when you’ll start to accept that this person is gone. Honestly, for me, this realization came slowly. It didn’t happen overnight, but one day I found myself thinking less about the pain of loss and more about how I could carry their memory with me, while still living my own life.

I remember talking to my mom about it one day, and she said something that stuck with me: “Acceptance doesn’t mean forgetting. It means finding peace with the reality of their absence.” That really clicked for me. Accepting their absence didn’t mean I had to let go of my love for them—it just meant learning how to live with that love in a different way.

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Love

Ultimately, accepting that someone is gone doesn’t mean you have to "move on" immediately or forget about them. It means learning how to carry them with you as you continue your journey, finding peace with their absence, and allowing yourself to heal at your own pace. It takes time, and that’s okay. You don’t need to rush the process. Allow yourself to grieve, remember, and, eventually, heal.

And remember: you don’t have to do this alone. Take your time, seek support, and find ways to honor the love you shared. It’s all part of the process, and it’s okay to take small steps. One day, you’ll realize that acceptance isn’t about saying goodbye—it’s about learning to live with their memory in a way that feels right for you.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.