How to Carry What Can't Be Fixed: A Journal for Grief

This author is one of the best who truly understands grief. I would highly recommend anything she writes

My son died of suicide seven years ago, but this book still helped me. I learned that both my love *and* my grief for him will be with me forever, and that they are both important parts of my spiritual and emotional relationship to him. It is good to know that I am not the only one who has had to endure cruel words or behavior from others after my loss. And that I don’t have to “accept” my son’s death, or move forward on anyone else’s timetable. It also helped me to learn on the web that in 2022 the author wed the most wonderful man, and that she is deliriously happy. This, as much as anything in the book, strengthened me, and gave me hope for the future.

Thank you Megan Devine. If you are grieving over the loss of someone you hold most dear? Too precious, and your heart, too tender, to feel understood? This is helpful. This is soo helpful. I don’t think this is a journal one can use for awhile though, not while you are still screaming about a loss so deep you still can’t breathe… but in time. I also have her book, so that’s why I feel I can write that. I love the author. I love that she shared things I feel, inside her book, “It’s OK That You’re Not Ok”. Clearly, her pain came to her as brutally as I feel mine. I am indebted to Megan Devine. I felt as if I was no longer allowed by others to express my sadness and hole, this place in our bed, the intimate conversations and moments, where my husband once was. She made me feel validated. I know that it will still be a long time till I’m not crying everyday. It’s brutal and feels so cruel to me. But at least I know that someone gets it and I don’t feel so alone because of that. Her advice towards the end of her book is to reach out to the “tribe”. I’m not ready for that but at least I have her books. Thank you Megan. UPDATE: I ordered this, again, a couple days ago because I’m struggling. I had to return my copy before because just the thought of filling out a journal about my precious, beautiful husband overwhelmed me. Today, I went to a home improvement store. I really have not gone anywhere since I lost my husband 9 months ago. The world feels strange now and I had a hard time just sliding my credit card. “Where does my card go in the machine again?” I asked. Do I have to be ok now? I’m not and I just don’t see how I ever will be, so I ordered this and it was on my porch when I got home. The first page I opened the book to said, “How can people just carry on, like nothing has happened?” I just burst into tears! That’s exactly how I felt at the home improvement store. I found myself wanting to tell people. But you know, they just wouldn’t know what to say to me. Someone gets it though. Megan Devine gets it, so she wrote this journal. Thank you Megan Define.

I will buy anything that Megan Devine makes/writes/produces. Her first book, “It’s OK That You’re Not OK,” introduced me to a perspective on grief and grieving that showed how normal it is, and not something to ‘cure,’ ignore, or get over. From reading that book, in 2018 I joined the first round in her Refuge In Grief writing program, Writing Your Grief. Then I joined the second round in 2019. I also bought her Art Workbook PDF in 2018. The Writing Your Grief Alumni Facebook Group is the only grief group where I can truly feel heard and understood, without any of the platitudes and “toxic positivity” that any grieving person wants to drop-kick into oblivion. I mention all of this because Megan’s works are a safe place for the grieving person. You will feel understood in a way that makes you feel like she is reading your thoughts. So from owning the 11-page Art Workbook PDF to testing out other random prompts, I have waited for this journal to be published for years. And it has been so worth the wait. This journal isn’t full of art prompts, but there are some in there. There are also writing prompts, thinking prompts, listing prompts, prompts to deconstruct the book - and most importantly, you don’t have to do all or any of them if you do or don’t want to. You can read the prompts in order - the book is written for three “phases”: Departure, Adventure, and Return, and how you define and traverse them - or you can pick and choose…it’s your book, and your grief. As usual, the prompts are thoughtful and based in the author’s own experience and research as a LPC and fellow griever. Don’t be wary about yet another grief resource from someone with questionable credentials: Megan shares her journey with grief right along with you, and she holds a Master’s in counseling psychology. Feel free to go to Megan’s webpage for more information about her books or writing programs, but I can personally guarantee you won’t regret this purchase.

Wife liked it

Really great and thoughtful reflection, journaling workbook. My therapist recommended this to me because we were going through similar things with our loved ones getting bone cancer. I would highly recommend this for anyone that’s grieving.

Am lucky to have this book. She has defeated death.period.

Es súper bonito el libro. Estoy súper contenta. The book is really lovely. I'm so happy to have found it.

This journal is amazing and is helping so so much

This journal has helped me a lot during various stages of my grief. I highly recommend this journal/workbook.

I’m moving at a small pace, my mom only passed away a couple of weeks ago and everything is just really upside down. But the advice and comfort it gives is priceless. Best Buy ever