Afterall, their deceased beloved isn’t really “lost” at all, since that person’s memory and legacy thrives in the hearts of those who loved him or her. In fact, to give voice to the pain of grief is to pay profound tribute to a loved one who died. In my view, not only does talking about grief remind us of the beautiful humanity of the person we loved, it also deepens our own humanity, since we’re sharing among others our feelings as we walk a path that is new for us, but walked by everyone sooner or later. And the compassion of other grieving people never fails to live up to the name “support group.” I’m reminded of what the poet Emily Dickinson once wrote about a sensitive, supportive friend of her’s: “I felt it shelter to speak to you.”