Hub City residents gather to remember, celebrate their loved ones

JACKSON, Tenn. — Residents across the Hub City gathered to celebrate the lives of those they love.

“People are happy. They want somebody to acknowledge their loved one. They want to talk about it. They want to know they are not alone,” said Twana Miller, owner of The Positive Living Group.

August 30 marks National Grieving Day.

The Positive Living Group provided the space, for the third year, for those who are grieving to express themselves and to know they are not alone during this journey.

“People think there’s a time frame for grief and when we’re here today to tell people that there is no time frame. In a year you shouldn’t be over it and in six months you shouldn’t be over it, when the funerals over you shouldn’t be over it there is not a time frame,” said Miller.

Miller shares that there are many cycles to grief.

“From anger to blame to shock to depression, you’ll go back and forth with those. Bargaining–you’ll go back and forth with the stages of grief,” said Miller.

During this celebration guests had the opportunity to purchase butterflies to be released.

“The purpose of the releasing of the butterflies is that we’re here today to say ‘Guess what? We miss you, we love you, we’ll never forget you, and we’re to celebrate your life and your legacy,'” said Miller.

She also shares some advice to those who are still grieving and are unsure of what to do.

“Get counseling, it’s okay to get counseling. It doesn’t make you that your less in your faith. Because you’re struggling, dealing with grief. We come from a society that teaches us only how to gain. We don’t know how to lose and grief looks different for every person,” said Miller.

The Positive Living Group also meets to have grief group once a month.

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