Creativity is cyclical. As it goes, many aspects of life can either destroy or produce creativity. You wear it like an ancient dress—imbued with language, culture, traditions, and beliefs.

If I could not participate in grief’s meaning making, I would feel impaired in a desolate terrain. However, grief can send me into a perilous Wonderland, waiting to wake from Alice’s non-adventure. These are the major signs of distress I look for while grieving.

Sometimes, loss or illness can leave you attending to only basic needs. Concerns around safety—both physical and emotional—overshadow established routines, assignments, and other social involvements. Learn how to use digital stickers and planners to cope and make meaning during the grief process.

Sometimes, when pain and fatigue are flaring, I am entirely homebound. This is a reality I must accept, and attending outside events cannot serve as my only indicator of a positive month. At the same time, my days at home need more than the easy tasks from my ever-growing to-do list. I need a way to plan that doesn’t conserve my best energy for activities outside the home.