To begin the process of living forward after a devestating loss is realize that we can't leave the loss behind. You don't move on past it, you move forward with it. However, it's even more important to understand that grief is so much more than just about a "death" event. Yes, the death of someone or something (pet) we love unconditionally is TRAUMA! But grief is not just about death. Grief is LOSS. The loss of of something we found precious. And so, it begins. First we define and understand, then we start moving forward.