Don't Tell Me To Get Over It

Both my parents instilled in me a great love for stories. My mother read to me every night as a child and my father told stories from his childhood in Poland. I sometimes struggle to put my grief into words and moments where I don't even realize I'm grieving. Then I read or watch a character go through their grief and I'm able to name mine. This episode is all about how literature and fiction can...

I'm back and I'm exhausted! In the second half of 2025 I took time off to deal with my own grief. Then 2026 came in with a bang: a fall down the stairs, a broken leg, and losing a job I'd held for seventeen years. This episode is where I tell you why Season 2 might sound different. Less clinical, more up close. Less curated, more real. We talk about Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, about grief fatigue,...

They told you big girls don't cry. They told you six months is long enough to feel sad. We say: crying is healthy, and no one gets to tell you how long to grieve. Season 2 of Don't Tell Me To Get Over It is here and this season, I'm talking about the grief that doesn't come with a casserole. Because some of the losses we carry never get a funeral. No one brings us flowers when we lose our job. No...

In today’s Q&A episode, I answer a question from a listener who wasn't able to attend a funeral and wonders if it’s too late to reach out to a grieving friend. Many of us worry about saying the wrong thing or reopening wounds, but does grief have an expiration date when it comes to offering support? I explore the hesitation that often holds us back, the impact of belated but sincere gestures,...

In this episode, I explore the often overwhelming experience of the first year after losing a loved one. When grief is fresh, it can feel like you're simply muddling through, unsure of what’s normal or how to move forward. I begin by sharing an excerpt from my grief memoir, reflecting on the emotions and challenges of that first year. From navigating milestones and daily responsibilities to unders...

In this special episode, I answer listener questions or share YOUR stories about grief and loss. Today's question comes from listener who has a friend who is dealing with both fresh grief and multiple losses and they want to know: is it too soon to refer their friend to the podcast? if YOU have a question, dear friends, please feel free to reach out to me at Ask@thegriefcurator.com . You can choos...

Welcome to the first episode of 2025! Today, I’m shifting gears and inviting you to get to know me a little better. In this cozy, reflective episode, I share my thoughts on embracing joy and romance (with a capital R) after loss, and why I’m ditching resolutions for something more meaningful. From navigating the bittersweetness of turning 50 to intentionally choosing Romance, I reflect on the choi...

In this episode, I talk about facing the holidays, especially Thanksgiving, while grieving. Drawing from my own experiences, I explore the challenges grievers face with family expectations, the pressure to feel grateful amidst loss, and our own internal guilt. But there's hope and practical strategies, like acknowledging emotions, setting boundaries, and honoring loved ones in meaningful ways. I a...

Show Summary In this episode, I discuss my experiences with grief and some of the secondary losses that followed the death of my father.  My father's passing has impacted my life, especially losses like my sense of identity, security, and dreams I shared with my dad. Even now, I grapple with these changes; however, I’ve learned to adapt, reframe, and even found ways to celebrate new ways of l...

Show Summary In this ghostly episode, I talk about “war, skeletons, cemeteries, and things that go bump in the night.”  Halloween can often seem garish to grievers—a mockery of their pain.  I felt that way too, and it took me a couple of years to reach a point where it didn’t bother me as much. I also share a story about my father and an encounter he had with his mother during WWII.&nbsp...

Episode Title : Hurricane Helene: Holding Space for Collective Grief Brief Show Summary : Hurricane Helene was a catastrophic storm that brought death and destruction to areas unprepared for her wrath.  In this episode, we invite you to talk about collective grief through the lens of Hurricane Helene, which devastated mountain communities in North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as coastal ar...

Shownotes - Episode 003 Guest: N/A Episode live date: Friday, September 27, 2024 Name of show: Don’t Tell Me to Get Over It Guest contact: N/A Episode title: Grief with No Name: Understanding Disenfranchised Loss Brief summary of show: In this episode, we open a discussion on the broader spectrum of grief, introducing the concept of disenfranchised grief—losses that society often overlooks or fail...

Show Notes - Episode 002 Guest: N/A Episode live date: Friday, September 13, 2024 Name of show: Don’t Tell Me to Get Over It Guest contact: N/A Episode title: Anger and the Five Stages: A Natural Response to Loss Brief summary of show: In this episode, we address the complexity of grief, emphasizing that it is not a linear process and validating all feelings experienced. Together, we dive deep int...

Shownotes - Episode 001 Guest: N/A Episode live date: Friday, August 30, 2024 Name of show: Don’t Tell Me to Get Over It Guest contact: N/A Episode number and title: At Home With Grief: The First Meeting Brief summary of show: I’m Michelle A. Gil, also known as The Grief Curator, and in this heartfelt episode, I introduce the 'Don't Tell Me To Get Over It' show for the very first time.  I ope...

There is no doubt that I was in denial. My father had always been a strong and healthy man at every age, and in my eyes he was immortal. A world where he simply no longer existed was incomprehensible to me. Any time I thought of losing him I closed my eyes to reality and pretended he would live forever. In the six years since my father died, I’ve joined grief groups, read amazing books on death, w...