Grief and trauma leave marks that can feel like permanent shadows on the soul. Whether you’ve experienced the loss of a loved one, a major life disruption, or a traumatic event, the journey toward healing can be long, nonlinear, and deeply personal. In the middle of that pain, the idea of finding joy might seem unrealistic—or even offensive. And yet, joy is not the absence of sorrow. It’s the quiet spark that reminds us life is still worth living.