Grief as an Interspecies/Beyond Species Act of Love
I found myself deeply touched by Jennifer Atkinson’s essay arguing that grief is necessary not just when a loved one departs, but when we act as climate allies. “In similar ways, when we openly grieve for the loss of other species or forests or rivers, we’re asserting that nonhuman lives are also worthy of mourning. We refuse to accept their exclusion from human circles of compassion.”
She goes on to discuss the connection between grief and love–and even to claim that grief is an aspect of love.
It’s short and only took me two or three minutes to read. Well worth it.
