Lisa Marie Presley discusses her journey through grief.
In a new piece released on Tuesday in honor of “National Grief Awareness Day,” Presley recalls the suicide of her son Benjamin Keough. Benjamin Keough, 27 years old, committed suicide in 2020.
“The second he died, my life and the lives of my three girls were utterly blown and obliterated,” she explained. “We don’t leave because we live here. Every single day. You will have to live with grief for the rest of your life, no matter what certain individuals or our culture would have us believe or want us to believe.”
“There is no such thing as “moving on” or “getting over it,” and the concept of “moving on” does not exist.”
According to Presley, grief is “extremely lonely,” and just “a handful” of people usually keep in touch to provide continuous support to a friend or family member who has suffered a catastrophic loss. Presley’s words perfectly encapsulate the essence of grief.
“Unfortunately, for the vast majority of people, this is the horrible fact. Ask everyone you know who has lost a loved one how they are doing, no matter how long it has been after the tragedy. Pay a visit to them. They will treasure it more than you realize since it shows how much you care “She continues.
Presley believes that being with others who have faced similar challenges has given her peace of mind.
“Look for support groups led by people who have suffered comparable losses to you. I fly to them and host them at my house in order to assist other grieving parents,” Presley says. “While nothing, and I mean nothing, can make your sorrow go away, seeking help can frequently make you feel less alone.”
Presley confesses that her girls are her inspiration.
“I keep going for my girls,” Presley writes. “I keep going because my son made it obvious in his closing moments that taking care of his younger sisters and watching out for them were at the top of his priorities. So I’ll keep doing what I’m doing.”
