There are some birthdays I will never stop celebrating in my heart.

People often say that time heals, but if you've lost someone you love, you'll know that grief doesn't heal, it changes.

You learn to carry it, and somehow you learn to carry the love too. That's what this episode is about.

In this episode I reflect on the journey of living with loss, and read the beautiful poem - The Dash.

This poem reminds us that our lives are not measured simply by the dates at the beginning and end, but by the little dash between them.

That tiny line represents every smile, every act of kindness, every challenge overcome, every person we've loved, and every life we've touched.

Matthew's dash lasted just 27 years, but the love he gave and the difference he made continue to ripple through the lives of those who knew him.

His story reminds me that it isn't the length of our lives that matters most, it's how we choose to live them.

If you're grieving someone you love, I hope this episode brings you comfort.

I hope it reminds you that love doesn't end when a life does, and that the people we miss most continue to shape who we are every single day.

Thank you for allowing me to share Matthew with you.

His life will always be one of the greatest gifts I've ever known, and I hope that, through this episode, his legacy encourages you to treasure every precious moment of your own dash.

I recorded this special birthday episode in Matthew's memory.

Together we reflect on the beautiful poem The Dash and what it teaches us about grief, love, legacy, and living a life that matters.

Whether you're grieving a child, a parent, a partner, a sibling, or a friend, I hope this episode brings comfort and reminds you that love never dies.

If this conversation has helped you, please consider following or subscribing to A Gift For Grief.

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Connect with your host Louise: https://www.louisebates.co.uk/

Credit: The Dash poem, written by Linda Ellis, copyright Southwestern Family of Companies (www.thedashpoem.com), Used by Permission.

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