Individual grief processes from "summary" of It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
Grief is a deeply personal experience, something that each person goes through in their own way. In my own life, I've seen how different people handle loss in different ways. Some people cry openly, while others keep their emotions bottled up inside. Some people throw themselves into work or school to distract themselves, while others need time alone to process their feelings. There's no one right way to grieve, and everyone's journey is unique. In "It's Not Summer Without You," we see this concept of individual grief processes play out in the lives of Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad. Each of them is dealing with the loss of Susannah, but they each handle it in their own way. Belly tries to push her feelings aside and focus on having a "normal" summer at the beach, while Jeremiah throws himself into partying and reckless behavior. Conrad, on the other hand, isolates himself and shuts out everyone around him. Through the characters of Belly, Jeremiah, and Conrad, we see how grief can manifest itself in different ways. Belly's attempts to ignore her pain only lead to it surfacing in unexpected moments, while Jeremiah's recklessness is a way of numbing himself to the pain. Conrad's isolation shows how some people need time and space to process their feelings before they can begin to heal.- "It's Not Summer Without You" teaches us that grief is a complex and individual process. There's no right or wrong way to grieve, and it's important to give ourselves and others the space and support they need to navigate their own feelings. By recognizing and respecting the unique ways in which people grieve, we can better understand and support each other through difficult times.
