If you’ve experienced significant loss, you’re probably familiar with the rollercoaster metaphor for grief — the ups and downs, the intensity, the lack of control. And sure, that part fits. But rollercoasters also come with tracks. The route is set. The rhythm is predictable. And when the ride is over, you step off and go back to your life.

Grief doesn’t follow that kind of pattern.

As a grief therapist, I probably spend more time than I should thinking about metaphors for the grieving process. And after recently vegging out to the very silly ‘80s movie Gremlins, something clicked…