Optimal Relationships Daily - Dating, Marriage and Parenting 2846: How to Cope With the Loss of Your Father by Karl Staib of Dig to Fly on Healing After Loss
Dec 26, 2025
Karl Staib, a writer and creator of Dig to Fly, shares his poignant journey through grief after losing his father. He emphasizes the power of gratitude journaling and family support in coping with loss. Through heartfelt anecdotes, Staib illustrates how reflecting on the gifts and wisdom of his father transformed his sorrow into appreciation. He encourages listeners to press on with journals, capturing memories and lessons, and highlights the enduring legacy of storytelling as a way to reconcile grief with gratitude.
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Joke-Of-The-Day Ritual
- Karl Staib shared calling his hospitalized father each morning and telling a joke while often crying afterward.
- The routine showed how small rituals provided connection during his father’s final months.
Use Gratitude Journaling To Reframe Grief
- Do keep a gratitude journal to reframe grief and focus on what you still have instead of what's lost.
- Do use journaling to process feelings and deliberately log lessons and positive memories.
Memory Bias Can Lock In Pain
- Our brains prioritize the most impactful event of the day and can lock in a negative memory without processing.
- Pausing to reframe difficult moments lets you encode them as meaningful or even positive memories.