Grief is a difficult thing. On one hand, we're often told to go through the stages, heal and move on. But on the other hand, it's not clear how long those stages "should" last, and we can be pressured to feel as though the healing is complete before we're ready.

What I love about Niwot resident Ellen Haswell's book, "A Little Book of Words for Those Who Grieve,'' is that the whole book takes yo...