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Grief can manifest in unexpected ways from "summary" of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Grief is a strange and shape-shifting thing. It doesn't always present itself in the ways we expect. Sometimes it lies dormant, lurking beneath the surface until something triggers it to come bubbling up to the forefront of our minds. In "Crying in H Mart," Michelle Zauner explores the various ways in which grief can rear its head when we least expect it. One of the unexpected ways in which grief can manifest is through food. For Zauner, the act of cooking and eating Korean food became a way for her to connect with her deceased mother and feel her presence. The smells and tastes of the dishes her mother used to make transported her back to moments spent in the kitchen together, filling her with a bittersweet longing for the past. Another surprising manifestation of grief is through physical symptoms. Zauner describes how the stress and sadness of losing her mother manifested in a myriad of physical ailments, from chronic stomach pain to hair loss. These symptoms served as a constant reminder of her grief, a tangible manifestation of the emotional turmoil brewing inside her. Grief can also manifest in unexpected outbursts of emotion. Zauner recounts moments when she would be going about her day, only to be overcome with sudden waves of sadness or anger. These emotional outbursts caught her off guard, leaving her feeling raw and exposed in their wake.- Zauner's exploration of grief in "Crying in H Mart" serves as a poignant reminder that grief is a complex and multifaceted emotion that can manifest in a myriad of unexpected ways. It is a reminder that grief is not a linear process, but rather a messy and chaotic journey that unfolds differently for each individual.