People think that they have to go through stages of grief (denial, bargaining, anger, depression and acceptance) before they can finally be "over it." They also think that once they go through one stage, they will move neatly to the next.

The reality is quite different.
Your grief will always be a part of you, not matter how many "stages" you go through. It was stay with you for the rest of your life.

The difference that happens over time is you. YOU will be doing lots of living, after grief is a part of your life, so instead of it getting smaller, your life just becomes bigger and more full of other people and experiences.

You will never forget - Instead, you will go to new cities, meet new people, try new things. You may not want to, but life gives you little choice. That grief is still there, with life expanding around it. As Robert Frost said, "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on."

We are all forever changed by our experiences, and we can/will hold onto them as life continues.