--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it…" description: "\"Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of you, step for step, breath for breath.\" — Jandy Nelson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/jandy-nelson-1913_breath_grief-is-forever-it-doesn-t-go-away-it-b_145800.png" --- # Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of… ![“Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of you, step for step, breath for breath.” quote by Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/jandy-nelson-1913_breath_grief-is-forever-it-doesn-t-go-away-it-b_145800.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/jandy-nelson-1913_breath_grief-is-forever-it-doesn-t-go-away-it-b_145800.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/545/jandy-nelson-1913_breath_grief-is-forever-it-doesn-t-go-away-it-b_145800.png) > “Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of you, step for step, breath for breath.” [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grief is a lasting presence that never fully disappears but integrates into one’s being over time. **In simple terms:** Grief stays with you, becoming part of you. Key Takeaway Allow grief to become part of your ongoing life. Themes loss endurance identity Mood somber reflective Type emotional inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - memorials - daily coping Key Concepts grief integration personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How does grief shape your identity? - What practices help integrate loss? A Different Perspective May overlook healing phases. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Going away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-away/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) ## Related quotes > [My sister will die over and over again for the rest of my life. Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/my-sister-will-die-over-and-over-again-for-the-rest-of-my-life-grief/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“We are only ever one step and one breath away from changing our life.Keep what you love. Let go of everything else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-novic/we-are-only-ever-one-step-and-one-breath-away-from-changing-our-life/) [Mimi Novic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-novic/) > [You do not have to remain stuck in your grief forever when you realize that your loved ones who have passed continue on with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-giesemann/you-do-not-have-to-remain-stuck-in-your-grief-forever-when-you/) [Suzanne Giesemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-giesemann/) > [Freedom is not given to us by anyone; we have to cultivate it ourselves. It is a daily practice... 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Now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/no-matter-how-long-your-journey-appears-to-be-there-is-never-more/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [ “You see, Momo,' he \[Beppo Roadsweeper\] told her one day, 'it's like this. Sometimes, when you've a very long street ahead of you, you… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/you-see-momo-he-beppo-roadsweeper-told-her-one-day-it-s-like-this/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [“just because it didn’t last forever, doesn’t mean it was a failure. It was right for the time. No one said the right guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bay/just-because-it-didn-t-last-forever-doesn-t-mean-it-was-a-failure-it/) [Louise Bay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bay/) > [“If you love someone, let it go. If it comes back to you, its yours forever. 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If it doesn't, then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lively/if-you-ever-want-something-badly-let-it-go-if-it-comes-back-to-you/) [Blake Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lively/) > [Just because it didn't last forever, doesn't mean it wasn't worth your while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-because-it-didn-t-last-forever-doesn-t-mean-it-wasn-t-worth-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you let go something and it comes back to you, then it was meant to be forever .but if it doesn't then it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/if-you-let-go-something-and-it-comes-back-to-you-then-it-was-meant-to/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [If you love someone or something let it go, and if it comes back then it will be yours forever, if it doesn't, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-mae-sajo-gallego/if-you-love-someone-or-something-let-it-go-and-if-it-comes-back-then/) [Christine Mae Sajo Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-mae-sajo-gallego/) ## More by Jandy Nelson > [And then he smiles, and in all the places around the globe where it's night, day breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/and-then-he-smiles-and-in-all-the-places-around-the-globe-where-it-s/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Or maybe a person is just made up of a lot of peopleMaybe we’re accumulating these new selves all the time. Hauling them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/or-maybe-a-person-is-just-made-up-of-a-lot-of-peoplemaybe-we-re/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“How can people die when you’re in a fight with them? When you’re smack in the middle of hating them? 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Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/he-murmers-into-my-hair-forget-what-i-said-earlier-let-s-stick-with/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“Listen to me. It takes a lot of courage to be true to yourself, true to your heart. You always have been very brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/listen-to-me-it-takes-a-lot-of-courage-to-be-true-to-yourself-true-to/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Sometimes you think you know things, know things very deeply, only to realize you don't know a damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/sometimes-you-think-you-know-things-know-things-very-deeply-only-to/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I have an impulse to write all over the orange walls- I need an alphabet of endings ripped out of books, of hands pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-have-an-impulse-to-write-all-over-the-orange-walls-i-need-an/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“I'd been making desicions for days. I picked out the dress Bailey would wear forever- a black slinky one- innapropriate- that she loved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-d-been-making-desicions-for-days-i-picked-out-the-dress-bailey/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [This is the secret I kept from you, Bails, from myself too: I think I liked that Mom was gone, that she could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/this-is-the-secret-i-kept-from-you-bails-from-myself-too-i-think-i/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) [Explore all 183 Jandy Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) ## More Breath quotes > [“The days may last forever, but the years pass by in a blink; the secret to survival is actually remembering to take a deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-smokler/the-days-may-last-forever-but-the-years-pass-by-in-a-blink-the-secret/) [Jill Smokler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-smokler/) > [Dawn's faint breath breathes with your mouth at the ends of empty streets. Gray light your eyes, sweet drops of dawn on dark hills.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/dawn-s-faint-breath-breathes-with-your-mouth-at-the-ends-of-empty/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [Take a deep breath. It,s just a bad day not a bad life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-deep-breath-it-s-just-a-bad-day-not-a-bad-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I stopped loving you today, But OMG..., Seeing your Body takes my breath away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becka-miller/i-stopped-loving-you-today-but-omg-seeing-your-body-takes-my-breath/) [Becka Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becka-miller/) > [So we must do our very best Whatever life may bring And look beyond the winter chill To smell the breath of spring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-we-must-do-our-very-best-whatever-life-may-bring-and-look-beyond/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Poetry should be vital--either stirring our blood by its divine movements or snatching our breath by its divine perfection. To do both is supreme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-birrell/poetry-should-be-vital-either-stirring-our-blood-by-its-divine/) [Augustine Birrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-birrell/) > [“The first step in awareness is to be watchful of your body. Slowly,slowly one becomes alert about each gesture,each movement. And as you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-first-step-in-awareness-is-to-be-watchful-of-your-body-slowly/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Tic Tacs are the maracas of breath mints.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/tic-tacs-are-the-maracas-of-breath-mints/) [Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/) > [“To control your life, control your mind. To control your mind, control your breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/to-control-your-life-control-your-mind-to-control-your-mind-control/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [“He’s sitting so close, I can feel his breath on my cheek. My stomach flip-flops again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-s-sitting-so-close-i-can-feel-his-breath-on-my-cheek-my-stomach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“My life to yours. My breath beecome yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/my-life-to-yours-my-breath-beecome-yours/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) > [“My heart is your heart," she whispers, and wow that takes my breath away, this line from my childhood that she always used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annabel-pitcher/my-heart-is-your-heart-she-whispers-and-wow-that-takes-my-breath-away/) [Annabel Pitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annabel-pitcher/) > [Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-costello/good-manners-and-bad-breath-will-get-you-nowhere/) [Elvis Costello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-costello/) > [“Being able to be myself was like being able to exhale for the first time after holding my breath for years. It’s only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/404-ink/being-able-to-be-myself-was-like-being-able-to-exhale-for-the-first/) 404 Ink [Browse all 1,839 Breath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Grief is forever. 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