Do you sometimes see something you think might be a sign from your person but follow that feeling up with immediate doubt?

Like, those times when you're stopped in your tracks because you hear a random song on shuffle, a feather on the ground, a dream that feels extra real. You think about your person or pet who died. It’s easy to brush those moments off, thinking, “Nah, that’s just a coincidence.”

But what if you trusted them?

Because many folks feel that if something makes you stop for a second, think of them, feel something real—that just may be your sign.

It doesn’t have to be loud or dramatic to matter. It can be small, weird, soft, or subtle. That doesn’t make it any less real. That doesn’t mean they don’t care. That doesn’t mean you’re not important.

You felt it. It reached you. That’s enough.

Want to get into the weeds of signs? Check out this blog post by Chelsea Irys, Rendlen, spiritual activist, author and summer camp professional.

Why we’re lovin’ it: What we appreciate most about the show “Shrinking” on Apple TV is that it shows grief through the eyes of a teenager and an adult, and how the relationship between father and daughter struggles while they grieve their mother/wife’s death. 

In this series, Jimmy, a father, and a therapist, distracts himself from the pain of having experienced the death of his wife and pushes himself away from his grieving teenage daughter, Alice, who needs support from her father now more than ever. 

This show explores something often not represented or talked about: how family dynamics suffer from dealing with the death of a shared person who died. 

In the show's third episode, “Fifteen Minutes,” Alice’s therapist, played by Harrison Ford (yeah, THE Harrison Ford), suggests that she take 15 minutes to listen to a song and allow herself to grieve. When she tries out the exercise, her dad finds her crying. Later on, in an effort to connect with her, he listens to the same song she does (“I Know the End”/Phoebe Bridgers) while on a bike ride and almost immediately starts sobbing before yelling a huge “Eff you, Phoebe Bridgers!” for making him feel all of the feelings. 

Talking about grief is messy. Still, it feels good to see characters accurately represent how grief can impact your relationships with your caregiver on TV. (Don’t worry, though; the show isn’t all the messy parts of grief; there are lots of laughs and tons of relatable moments from Alice's perspective.)

If you haven’t seen it, give it a watch!

We love the song "Heart of Gold"  by Shawn Mendes, which a beautiful tribute written in memory of his childhood friend who died from a drug overdose. The song is about the sadness and regret Mendes feels for not being there during his friend's struggles.

In the lyrics, he talks about missed opportunities to support his friend: "I didn't know what you were going through / I'm sorry that I wasn't there." ​

We especially appreciate the chorus: "You had a heart of gold, yeah / You had a heart of gold / You left too soon, it was out of your control," capturing the pain of losing someone too soon and the huge,  lasting impact they leave behind. ​

Mendes dedicated "Heart of Gold" to others who have experienced the grief of losing someone in this way. It's a totally heartbreaking but relatable ballot.

We are love, love, lovin' this beautiful poem, spoken by Tina, a teen member of our Youth Advisory Board who talks to her younger self about grieving her mom, who died when Tina was 10. Check it out and show Tina a little love in the comments if you like what you hear!

What about YOU? What would you tell your younger self about grief? What kind of comfort might you offer?