Coping with Grief While Travelling - How to Handle Loss from Afar
Imagine travelling the world, seeking adventure, self-discovery, and freedom, only to find yourself weighed down by an unexpected visitor—grief. It’s an emotional side to long-term travel that often goes unspoken. But grief isn’t just about losing a loved one; it can manifest in many forms. It might be grieving the moments you’ve missed with family and friends—the birthdays, celebrations, and milestones you couldn’t be there for. It can also involve grieving parts of yourself—your innocence, your dreams, or even the friendships and connections lost along the way.
How do you navigate loss when you're miles away from home, and how do you carry the memory of your loved ones with you on your journey?
In this post, I’ll explore the many dimensions of grief while travelling, offering personal insights and strategies for navigating emotional challenges. Whether it’s mourning missed moments with loved ones or coping with the pain of losing someone dear, I’ll share what has helped me manage grief, handle the emotional weight of loss, and cope with the guilt that often accompanies being far from home during difficult times.
How to Cope with Grief While Travelling
Finding Peace in the Face of Grief
Before I left for my travels, I tried to prepare myself for the possibility of losing loved ones while away. I spent precious time with family, cherishing each moment and acknowledging that, should the time come, I might not be there with them. While I knew they wouldn’t want me to feel guilty for being absent, no amount of preparation could soften the blow. When the news came, not being able to say goodbye in person broke me. The pain of not holding them one last time and saying what was in my heart felt like an unbearable weight. Though I expressed my love to them every time we met, there’s always that lingering feeling that more could have been done.
A Shift in Perspective – Grief from Afar
Losing two very dear people—one unexpectedly and another to cancer—has made me reflect deeply on life, death, and the complexities of grief. It has made me realise that while you know it could end soon, it's hard to truly internalise and accept that reality. As a nurse, dealing with loss was part of my job. I spoke with grieving families, supported patients making difficult decisions, and was there for those who knew their time was near. But even though I thought I could handle these situations well, travelling has made me realise the toll it took on my mental health. I now find myself questioning my views on life and death more than ever. I have many questions but no fully satisfying answers—or at least none that feel entirely right for me. Yet, in searching for ways to cope with loss, I have discovered new refuges, and through them, I’ve found an unexpected sense of peace.
Before, I saw death as just a natural part of life—which it is and was a reality I dealt with regularly in the hospital. But now, being away from my family and missing life’s significant moments with them, I find it harder to accept that "that's life." When I was younger, I was at peace with the thought of dying, feeling that I had fully lived and enjoyed the life I had. But now, I want more. I want to explore more and experience more. And I am learning that the desire to live fully, even in the face of loss, is part of embracing this complex, beautiful journey called life.
If I had to go, though, I believe I would find peace knowing that everything happens for a reason. While I don’t fully understand the timing of life and death—especially when an innocent child suffers through cancer and still passes—I hold on to the belief that there is a greater reason behind it. I trust that we all have our own individual timelines, and while I don’t understand how they’re determined, I find solace in the idea that they carry meaning.
Healing from Loss While Travelling
Finding Healing in Nature
Surprisingly, being physically distant from my family and friends helped me process my grief in a unique, even faster way. Nature became my sanctuary. The calming, almost hypnotic sounds of the ocean waves soothed my soul, and my tears became a part of them. The stunning colours of sunrises and sunsets symbolised the beauty of beginnings and endings, while the carefree butterflies fluttering through the air—despite their short lives— were a powerful reminder of the impermanence and beauty of life. This way of looking at nature and life, coupled with the signs of the universe, helped me to cope with my losses. At times, I had unique interactions with animals in difficult moments, giving me the feeling that they were there for me, watching over me.
Their love continues to guide me, even from beyond. Knowing that the loved ones I lost were no longer suffering, free from pain and struggle, brought me comfort. My family's unwavering support—reminding me to live fully and thrive—has helped me find peace in their absence. I lost my grandmother, my closest aunt, and my beloved uncle while travelling. Each loss was deeply painful, but through it all, I carried their memory with me, embracing the life they had hoped for me.
This sunset with the two birds perched on a wire was taken just moments after hearing the news of my aunt’s passing. It felt like a sign from her, offering one last goodbye.
Staying Emotionally Connected While Travelling
Celebrating Milestones from Afar: Making Moments Special
Although far away, I’ve always found ways to make milestones memorable for my loved ones. For example, for my godmother’s retirement, I sent her a thoughtful breakfast delivery with flowers, sparkling wine, groceries, and a personal note. It arrived early in the morning, and I told her to check her mail for a surprise. For important birthdays, I organised surprises from afar, made memory videos, or sent gifts in advance from the country I was visiting to ensure they arrived on time. For my parents, I had a special photo of them turned into a painting and sent to them from Switzerland. I’ve also sent handwritten letters, which seem to carry extra meaning when sent from halfway across the world.
These small acts of love make it feel like I’m there, sharing special moments with my loved ones. If you’re in Switzerland and looking to send something like breakfast or a thoughtful gift to someone, I recommend checking local bakeries and stores that offer delivery services. If that’s not an option, farmy.ch is an excellent alternative for finding unique gifts and food. I can’t encourage you enough to make these small gestures— they bring so much joy, and often, people don’t expect anything at all.
Moving Forward After Loss – Embracing Life While Travelling
Embracing Life and its Small Moments
While the journey of grief may never truly end, I've learned that healing is not about proximity but presence—being fully present in the moment and embracing life. Though I’ve experienced loss while travelling, I’ve discovered new ways to honour my loved ones, carrying their memory with me in every step I take. Nature, the love of my family, and my own resilience have been my guiding lights through it all. As I continue to explore the world and cherish the time with those I love, I remind myself that even in the face of grief and loss, life is still meant to be lived fully.
It’s also important to remember that it’s okay to have days of mourning, to slow down, and just be. Taking time to grieve and process emotions like sadness, anger, or frustration is a vital part of the healing journey. It’s essential to listen to your thoughts and needs. Just like nature, growth requires both water and shadow to become strong—sunlight and light will always return.
To anyone navigating grief or the challenge of being away from loved ones, I hope you find your path to peace, whether through the beauty of nature, the strength of family, or the quiet acceptance that life, in all its complexity, is a journey worth embracing.