Losing a loved one is one of the most heart-wrenching life changes one goes through. No one can explain the depth of the pain and how it completely transforms one’s outlook on life. The lessons one learns and evolves through after grief of death are one of a kind. Terri Irwin, wife of late Australian zookeeper and conservationist Steve Irwin, learned a lot from the passing of her husband. Steve passed away in 2006, leaving behind Terri, their son and daughter. In a podcast titled 'Wiggle Talk' (@thewiggles), Terri shared her profound experience and powerful insight into grief.
When asked about the popular saying that 'time heals all wounds,' Terri shared an unusual and unique perspective, saying that time doesn't necessarily heal but teaches one to live with the wounds. “When they say time heals all wounds, it doesn’t. Eventually, it changes and walks next to you and you have to acknowledge your grief,” she said. Terri stressed the fact that there are certain types of grief that one may never completely get over and that’s okay. “It’s more a companion than an all-consuming thing,” she remarked. Recalling her own experience, Terri mentioned that it’s okay to have grief and still carry on with life.
The mother of two added that one needs to focus more on the hopeful aspect rather than the need to get over the grief. “It’s going to be okay, your kids are going to be okay. The sun will shine again. It may not shine as bright but it will shine,” she exclaimed. Terri emphasized that though it feels devastating at the time, one learns to blend in with the feeling and evolve from the experience.
The host also mentioned how people are faced with a choice to remove and detach from the person and their memories after their passing. However, Terri chose to keep Steve as a constant in her and her kids’ lives. She ensured he was a part of the family and was somehow included in their lives throughout the many years despite his passing. However, it was stressed that it is a personal choice and is up to the person how they wish to evolve from the grief. While the mom acknowledged that a lot changes, and becomes a confusing disaster, things have ways of working out with time.
Many people resonated with Terri’s perspective, especially those who had experienced the loss of their loved ones. @nicole_aus_ wrote, “I tried to remember this when I lost my son. The grief doesn't shrink, we simply learn to grow around it.” @kadjajj6 added, “I read once that grief is a ball in a box and every time it hits the wall it hurts. The ball doesn’t get smaller but the box gets bigger.” @rewindbeforereturning remarked, “One day you talk about them but instead of crying, you will smile because you are grateful for the memories. Hold on, you will be okay.” @shareith added, “I’ve learned. We rebuild our lives around grief.”
@thewiggles On this week’s episode of the Wiggle Talk podcast, Simon and Lachy are joined by very special guest Terri Irwin, for a discussion about grief, love, and what happens when your family dynamic suddenly changes. What happens when your family dynamic changes suddenly, and how do you help your kids navigate when someone isn’t around anymore, whether it’s through divorce, death or they’ve moved on from your life? Terri Irwin is someone who has been through this situation. The matriarch of the Irwin family, a world-renowned conservationist, owner of Australia Zoo and a mum, who had to help her two kids, @Bindi Irwin and @Robert Irwin through an unimaginable loss, while also grieving herself. So how do you get through that? And what advice does she have for people finding themselves in a similar situation? Terri is a remarkable woman and shares her wisdom with us in this episode. You can listen to ‘Wiggle Talk’ now wherever you get your podcasts 🎧 Wiggle Talk is proudly presented by @Young Academics Early Learning Centres. #wiggletalk #podcast #terriirwin #thewiggles #fyp #family #wigglestok #steveirwin #grief #love #resilience ♬ original sound - The Wiggles
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This article originally appeared 2 months ago.