Writing by Haylee Penfold
TW: Mention of death and suicide
Good Mourning is a podcast, Instagram and Facebook community that talks all things grief with honesty and humour. The hosts, Sal and Im, interview interesting guests about their experience with loss and provide a toolkit, resources and support for others navigating loss. The driving purpose of Good Mourning is to help others feel supported and less alone in their grief. From this, the pair have built a highly engaged following and audience who loves the way they approach grief – they don’t sugar coat it; they tell it like it is in a friendly and warm way.
People assume that grief is just sadness, but it is so much more. In a nutshell, grief brings a range of complex emotions and it might feel difficult, exhausting or draining. It can feel like a deep, deep longing. Everyone experiences grief differently – there’s no right or wrong way to feel. It can be ever-changing and whether your loss is fresh or years down the line, some days you might feel fine and other days you might feel the loss so acutely it physically aches.
Sal and Im have formed a genuine connection to the topic of grief, having both lost their mothers suddenly within the past two years. Sally’s mum died from a sudden seizure and Imogen’s mum died by suicide. The two started Good Mourning after meeting at a Motherless Daughters Australia meet up and became fast friends. Both felt, as young grievers, there was not a platform that approached the topic of grief in an honest, hopeful and humorous way, which is something they both craved. So, they decided to start Good Mourning.
There are so many ways to help cope with grief! Sal and Im state that in the early days after a loss, one of the best pieces of advice they received was to pare things right back and take things one step at a time. Focus on the right now and what you need at that moment. Also, limit your expectations on yourself – grief is mentally and physically exhausting and so you may not have the energy or capacity to do the things you used to, and that’s ok. Treat yourself with kindness and understanding – if you need to spend the day in bed, let yourself.
So what is in the future for Good Mourning? The duo have some exciting things in the pipeline but ultimately the main goal is to keep creating conversations and content that normalises grief, educates others on loss and be a support to others going through a difficult time.
Their message for anyone going through grief right now is:
“Whatever you are feeling, there is no right or wrong way to grieve – everyone is different so don’t judge yourself or how you are processing your loss. Know that there is a support network out there and you are not alone in this.”
The pair have a private Facebook support group here that people are welcome to join, it’s a safe space to connect with others and honour their loved ones. You can find them on Instagram @goodmourningpodcast to connect with others going through loss, or their podcast episodes offer tips and support resources too.
