We mourn the loss of meaning — an existential journey I describe as grief of being. These writings, shaped over fifteen years, reflect the quiet ache of existential grief. We grieve through denial, anger, bargaining, and depression, each stage slowly giving way to acceptance — living despite our existential loss.

The artwork here in this book is by Hadis Bahrami, who reinterpreted my words as paintings — etched upon canvas and these pages. These works, first unveiled at the renowned Artexpo New York 2025, mark a milestone in our artistic collaboration.

Dr. Matt Gari