Grief

How 'Dawson’s Creek' Helped Me Cope With My Grief After Losing My Grandfather

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Last updated: October 18, 2023

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A few months ago, I unexpectedly lost my grandfather. Suddenly, I had to process my devastation, numbness, and anger. My grief looked different every day, and it was so overwhelming that I couldn’t cope. I didn’t know where to turn.

I was desperate to take a break from living in my grief, so I decided to browse Netflix and choose a show to watch. I happened to find the 90s drama “Dawson’s Creek” and decided to start the series. The series follows aspiring film writer Dawson Leroy, and as a writer myself, I figured that if nothing else, I could probably relate to the protagonist.

Eventually, I reached an episode in which Dawson’s dad, Mitch, suddenly dies after a drunk driver hits him. That moment was powerful because I saw a TV character going through everything I was facing. I watched Dawson go through the same disbelief, anger, and numbness I felt when my grandfather left this world — and to my surprise, I could relate perfectly.

Dawson eventually accepts that his father is no longer physically with him, but it was his emotional reaction to his father’s passing that made me feel like the show truly saw me. As I watched, I was going through the same grieving process, and the show reminded me that all of my emotions were OK to feel. It was OK for me to cry or break down — it was all part of my healing process.

“Dawson’s Creek” also reminded me that death can teach us powerful lessons about how to live. Dawson learned that life is too short not to tell others how much they mean to you, and his lesson reminded me of all of the moments I enjoyed with my grandfather. He also struggled to forgive the driver who killed his father but realized that forgiving others can be freeing — which is a mindset that I hope to bring into my own life. I soon began to forgive myself too, especially on the days when my grief was hard for others to understand.

Watching “Dawson’s Creek” after my grandfather died helped me cope with my grief and reminded me of what truly matters in life. I’m thankful that I found the show at the perfect time and appreciate that it taught me to forgive easily and make my life worth every second.

This story originally appeared on Unwritten.
Getty image by PeopleImages.

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Tylia L. Flores is a twenty-eight-year-old born with Spastic Cerebral Palsy. Despite her condition that affects her mobility, she does not allow it to affect her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world. In doing so, she hopes to help others with disabilities realize that they, too, have the potential to make their dreams come true. Tylia is not only an author. She’s a radio show personality and a disability activist. Tylia has written about disability-related topics for Yahoo Life, Your Tango, The Mighty, ReadUnwritten.com, Words Between Coasts Project, Wednesday, Spilwords, and Goble Thrive. Worth Living Among her other appearances are Disability on the Spectrum and Why I was Afraid of Sexuality. Previously, Tylia was nominated to Diversabilities list of the most influential Disability Impacts of 2022. Additionally, Tylia holds the position of chairman in the creative director role for the North American Association Of Cerebral Palsy Advocates. She serves as a mentor for the Disability EmpowHer Network as well. Tylia also works for Write It Up Publishing as a sensitivity reader focusing on disability representation. Tylia has also been involved in many movie press releases for Samuel Goldwyn Films Come as you are Piece of me which was the short film directed and written by award winning filmmaker Bruna Cabral as well as the film adaptation of the book Calvin can’t fly by Jenifer Burnes Tylia is also a keynote speaker at 2020’s Cerebral Palsy Awareness conference. She has also been a guest speaker at Northeastern State University Broken Arrow where she talks to college students about disability and inclusion in education. She has also been a guest speaker at Plantation Middle School, where she discussed inclusion and disability with classmates. Tylia is fully certified in Education for All: Disability, Diversity, and Inclusion through Cape Town University. She’s also certified in Understanding Diversity and Inclusion through Purdue University. She’s also certified in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. Tylia hosts the Stomping On cerebral Palsy radio show with DJ Ty on Asheville FM with DJ Mouse during the Come On In the Kitchen segment once a month she also helps the staff behind the scenes, help bring awareness to disability awareness and inclusion within the radio broadcasting industry .

Originally published: March 7, 2022

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