The bittersweetness of grief

When a relationship ends, a part of us just wants to cut if off as quickly and painlessly as possible; after all, we would rather avoid the pain. But in cutting of the pain, we also cut off the sweetness, too. The grief that accompanies a breakup is a multifaceted thing. It's not only pain. It's also bittersweet. And when we sit with the pain, we also get to experience the love. Because you still love each other, even in the breakup, even in the grief and pain. And you both also know it's over. That in-between gray area between relationship and end of relationship that we have an urge to skip over is rich. There is so much to be grateful for; when we can focus not just on the reasons that brought about the breakup, but on all the reasons that brought us together and kept us together for so long, then we can leave relationships with a sense of connection and gratitude.