When you lose a loved one, it’s normal to grieve. But it’s also healthy that life goes on. The world doesn’t stop turning.

It’s essential to deal with your own grief your own way. Don’t project it on to other people.

And acknowledge flaws. Death is our most honest moment.

No single life is more important than any other.

That’s not harsh, it’s just reality.

One of the most unhealthy things is the simple concept of grief hijack - where people appropriate grief in order to drive their own egos and agendas.

People who do this or use someone else’s loss as a mechanism to hurt others are toxic.

I think what a lot of people are struggling with given current events is weighing the justification for shutting the whole country down during a crisis when we’ve all been expected to keep calm and carry on while huge numbers of people died and monthly finances became unstable.

And, ultimately, it drives a deeper wedge between a society of haves and have nots.

The expectation for most of us is we dust ourselves down and get back to work as quickly as possible.

Traditions such as national mourning just aren’t compatible with how our world works.

Personally, having proudly served the Crown, I offer my condolences and wish the Royal family peace and peace of mind, but everything in my life carries on because my place in society provides me with no safety net.

Most of use - the vast majority - are in the same position.

As was the case when my mum passed away back in 2001, the best thing I could do (and did do) is deal with my grief without hurting or disturbing others and make the best of every day which followed that loss.

Please, everyone, drop the nasty stuff and just live your best lives.