Say Their Name

Have you ever felt just… off?

Not sad.
Not angry.
Not even sure what the emotion is—just not yourself.

That’s where I’ve been.

My head and my heart have felt like an indoor Category 5 hurricane—spinning, loud, overwhelming, with no clear place to land.

I missed my friend’s funeral… and that’s been sitting heavy with me.

Then I saw a post—his dad not only lost his son, but also lost his own father while preparing for the funeral.

Let that sink in for a second.

And then more posts…
Parents grieving their children.

Young or grown—it doesn’t matter.
There is no version of that loss that doesn’t change you forever.

It’s been one of those weeks where grief feels like it’s everywhere you look.

And there’s something I keep noticing…

So many people are afraid to say the name of the person who died.

We tiptoe.
We avoid it.
We stay quiet because we’re afraid we might “remind” someone of their loss… or make it worse.

But here’s the truth most people don’t realize:

You are not reminding them.

They didn’t forget.

What you are doing—when you say their name, when you share a memory, when you tell a story—

Is reminding them that their person mattered.

That they are still remembered.
That their life left an impact.
That they are not grieving alone.

And that matters more than most people will ever understand.

If you know someone who is grieving…

Say the name.
Tell the story.
Bring them up.

It might feel uncomfortable for you—but for them, it can feel like a breath of fresh air in the middle of suffocating grief.

Grief is heavy.

But being seen in it?
That changes everything.

This is exactly why Over Abundance of Light exists—to remind you that even here, there is still light.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you.
Reply, share this with someone who needs it, or take a moment today to say someone’s name out loud.

— Dawn
Over Abundance of Light