Kyra

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The hashtag #grievingprocess on TikTok captures shared experiences of loss, healing journeys, emotional expression, support communities, personal stories, vulnerability, coping mechanisms, remembrance, transformation, resilience, understanding, collective mourning, and connection.
Stepping into an entirely different life with someone else after your husband dies is beautiful but it isn't easy. Some make it look effortless and without hiccups, and perhaps I haven't done a good job portraying it otherwise, but blending families after a death is very complex and comes with many conflicting emotions. It isn't easy to navigate extreme personal growth after a traumatic loss AND growth within a new relationship.  During this endeavor there have been both triumphs and setbacks.  Times where I doubted my own grief and process (am I holding onto the past too hard or letting go too quickly?)  There have been many tough and difficult conversations as we navigate co-parenting, grief, and blending of 3 families.  But relationships aren't supposed to be easy. They are meant to make you grow and expand as a person, humble you, put a mirror to yourself and what you need to refine. Nothing worth having is ever easy.  But Anthony and I, despite both the storms and the calm from the storms that we've had to navigate through, always choose doing it together than without each other. We challenge one another, but we make each other better versions of ourselves. We have grown and expanded individually, as partners, and as co-parents. A beautiful, messy journey.  So what you see may just look like another cute video. But what I see are so many days together, growing in love with one another, accepting each others strengths, weaknesses, and differences as we integrate our lives together, and becoming one family 🥹 . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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Stepping into an entirely different life with someone else after your husband dies is beautiful but it isn't easy. Some make it look effortless and without hiccups, and perhaps I haven't done a good job portraying it otherwise, but blending families after a death is very complex and comes with many conflicting emotions. It isn't easy to navigate extreme personal growth after a traumatic loss AND growth within a new relationship. During this endeavor there have been both triumphs and setbacks. Times where I doubted my own grief and process (am I holding onto the past too hard or letting go too quickly?) There have been many tough and difficult conversations as we navigate co-parenting, grief, and blending of 3 families. But relationships aren't supposed to be easy. They are meant to make you grow and expand as a person, humble you, put a mirror to yourself and what you need to refine. Nothing worth having is ever easy. But Anthony and I, despite both the storms and the calm from the storms that we've had to navigate through, always choose doing it together than without each other. We challenge one another, but we make each other better versions of ourselves. We have grown and expanded individually, as partners, and as co-parents. A beautiful, messy journey. So what you see may just look like another cute video. But what I see are so many days together, growing in love with one another, accepting each others strengths, weaknesses, and differences as we integrate our lives together, and becoming one family 🥹 . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
There are both dark knowns and unknowns that we carry after we experience a life altering death.  I opened my email when I was going through an insurance appeal after Ryan's death and saw that my medical expert had attached the EMS report from the day of his accident. My heart immediately started thumping out of my chest.  I had been there the day of his accident. I had witnessed everything. I saw how Ryan gasped for air and the fear in his eyes before he went unresponsive. I carry those traumatic events in every cell of my body. The helplessness I felt returned reading the words in black and white.  And then so many questions emerged.  Did he know what was happening? What was his last thought?  Could I have done more? What did I do wrong? Was he scared?  Reading about Ryan's accident in medical terms made everything seem so real. It made gray and fuzzy areas more distinct. And I broke down that day. About things I wished were different. About the pain Ryan endured. About how scared he was and how I couldn't save him. About how the insurance company was making me relive the trauma. I let myself be angry. I told Ryan how sorry I was.  In my work as a grief coach, I help those who have been through a traumatic loss find peace, release guilt associated with their loss, and teach how to carry a forever pain while stepping into the light and not be consumed and controlled by the things we cannot change.  See below for ways to connect and work with me ❤️ . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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There are both dark knowns and unknowns that we carry after we experience a life altering death. I opened my email when I was going through an insurance appeal after Ryan's death and saw that my medical expert had attached the EMS report from the day of his accident. My heart immediately started thumping out of my chest. I had been there the day of his accident. I had witnessed everything. I saw how Ryan gasped for air and the fear in his eyes before he went unresponsive. I carry those traumatic events in every cell of my body. The helplessness I felt returned reading the words in black and white. And then so many questions emerged. Did he know what was happening? What was his last thought? Could I have done more? What did I do wrong? Was he scared? Reading about Ryan's accident in medical terms made everything seem so real. It made gray and fuzzy areas more distinct. And I broke down that day. About things I wished were different. About the pain Ryan endured. About how scared he was and how I couldn't save him. About how the insurance company was making me relive the trauma. I let myself be angry. I told Ryan how sorry I was. In my work as a grief coach, I help those who have been through a traumatic loss find peace, release guilt associated with their loss, and teach how to carry a forever pain while stepping into the light and not be consumed and controlled by the things we cannot change. See below for ways to connect and work with me ❤️ . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
Here 👇🏻 (1) The night that Ryan died I felt the need to start sleeping on what had been "his side" of our bed. His absence felt so enormous and palpable after his death-the space he should have been felt so heavy next to me. Taking up the space that he once did was less painful for me. Ever since that night, I've been sleeping on what had been "Ryan's side."  (2) It took well over a year after Ryan died to dream about him. I've only had two dreams about him since October 14, 2021 (the day of his accident). Once was when he was in the hospital and the other was this year. In the dream, I saw him through the window of our old home. He was in his police uniform and he smiled up at me but I couldn't get to him. So reflective of real life 🥹💔 (3) My primary love languages changed. When Ryan was healthy and alive my primary love language was acts of service. Ryan's had always been physical touch and quality time. After Ryan died, my primary love languages are physical touch and words of affirmation. Most likely because I missed those so much when Ryan was sick.  (4) In our old house, I would hear Ryan's foot steps in his work boots at night like he was coming up the stairs. The sound of those boots on our steps were so unique, almost unmistakable. I like to think that was him reminding me that he is always around protecting us.  What are some weird experiences that happened to you after the death of your loved one?  . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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Here 👇🏻 (1) The night that Ryan died I felt the need to start sleeping on what had been "his side" of our bed. His absence felt so enormous and palpable after his death-the space he should have been felt so heavy next to me. Taking up the space that he once did was less painful for me. Ever since that night, I've been sleeping on what had been "Ryan's side." (2) It took well over a year after Ryan died to dream about him. I've only had two dreams about him since October 14, 2021 (the day of his accident). Once was when he was in the hospital and the other was this year. In the dream, I saw him through the window of our old home. He was in his police uniform and he smiled up at me but I couldn't get to him. So reflective of real life 🥹💔 (3) My primary love languages changed. When Ryan was healthy and alive my primary love language was acts of service. Ryan's had always been physical touch and quality time. After Ryan died, my primary love languages are physical touch and words of affirmation. Most likely because I missed those so much when Ryan was sick. (4) In our old house, I would hear Ryan's foot steps in his work boots at night like he was coming up the stairs. The sound of those boots on our steps were so unique, almost unmistakable. I like to think that was him reminding me that he is always around protecting us. What are some weird experiences that happened to you after the death of your loved one? . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
Jealousy.  It is hard for me to even admit that after my husband died that one of the emotions I felt intensely, was jealousy. But I've learned that grief is messy, tricky, and complex like that.  I remember specifically the first Memorial Day after my late husband, Ryan's, death how jealous and enraged I felt looking online at all the pictures of intact families celebrating the holiday. There were children playing on the beach and in the ocean with their parents. Smiling, laughing, barbequing, and creating happy memories. And it all made me want to throw my phone against a wall, because that is what I had in my life before loss. I couldn't look at smiling couples, especially with children, for a long time without feeling that pang of jealousy rise up inside of me.  And it is normal to feel this way, although we feel pretty crappy when we are in the midst of feeling jealous over looking at happy families. It made me feel like a bad person for a while but it makes so much sense now. When Ryan died, we had lost someone precious to us forever. Our family will never look or feel the same. The jealousy you may feel stems from grieving what you once had which now does not exist and can never exist in the same form. Happy families are a harsh reminder of what you lost.  If you're struggling with the many intense and often confusing array of emotions attached to your grief and are looking for support, see below to learn how to take the next step to learn more about how grief coaching can help you. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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Jealousy. It is hard for me to even admit that after my husband died that one of the emotions I felt intensely, was jealousy. But I've learned that grief is messy, tricky, and complex like that. I remember specifically the first Memorial Day after my late husband, Ryan's, death how jealous and enraged I felt looking online at all the pictures of intact families celebrating the holiday. There were children playing on the beach and in the ocean with their parents. Smiling, laughing, barbequing, and creating happy memories. And it all made me want to throw my phone against a wall, because that is what I had in my life before loss. I couldn't look at smiling couples, especially with children, for a long time without feeling that pang of jealousy rise up inside of me. And it is normal to feel this way, although we feel pretty crappy when we are in the midst of feeling jealous over looking at happy families. It made me feel like a bad person for a while but it makes so much sense now. When Ryan died, we had lost someone precious to us forever. Our family will never look or feel the same. The jealousy you may feel stems from grieving what you once had which now does not exist and can never exist in the same form. Happy families are a harsh reminder of what you lost. If you're struggling with the many intense and often confusing array of emotions attached to your grief and are looking for support, see below to learn how to take the next step to learn more about how grief coaching can help you. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
On October 14, 2021, my late husband, Ryan, had a severe reaction to a bee sting, causing him to go into cardiac arrest and resulting in an anoxic brain injury (i.e. when the brain is deprived of oxygen).  Ryan went from someone so full of life to someone who couldn't do anything. He was in a coma and then in a minimally conscious or vegetative state. Most people don’t understand how painful it is to watch someone who was a fully functioning, loving, independent human become a shell of themselves. Brain injuries also affect the body. People with brain injuries develop conjectures in their limbs that are painful, as well as bed sores.  They lose muscle mass. They are at risk for pneumonia, blood clots, and other infections. Modern medicine can keep these individuals alive for years if not decades. When we were told that a meaningful life for Ryan was impossible, we asked “What would hospice look like?” I had no idea that in Pennsylvania where death with dignity is not available, hospice for those in vegetative states means withdrawing nutrition and hydration.  Ryan was on hospice for 22 days, and his artificial nutrition and hydration were withdrawn on the 10th day. He was kept comfortable by a copious amount of pain medication. I will not lie, it was a terrible thing to watch. This experience made me so much more aware of the importance of having other options for death when an individual is terminal and suffering. In sharing, I hope to bring awareness to an experience that is rarely talked and misunderstood.  . . . . . 💌DM "Support" for grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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On October 14, 2021, my late husband, Ryan, had a severe reaction to a bee sting, causing him to go into cardiac arrest and resulting in an anoxic brain injury (i.e. when the brain is deprived of oxygen). Ryan went from someone so full of life to someone who couldn't do anything. He was in a coma and then in a minimally conscious or vegetative state. Most people don’t understand how painful it is to watch someone who was a fully functioning, loving, independent human become a shell of themselves. Brain injuries also affect the body. People with brain injuries develop conjectures in their limbs that are painful, as well as bed sores. They lose muscle mass. They are at risk for pneumonia, blood clots, and other infections. Modern medicine can keep these individuals alive for years if not decades. When we were told that a meaningful life for Ryan was impossible, we asked “What would hospice look like?” I had no idea that in Pennsylvania where death with dignity is not available, hospice for those in vegetative states means withdrawing nutrition and hydration. Ryan was on hospice for 22 days, and his artificial nutrition and hydration were withdrawn on the 10th day. He was kept comfortable by a copious amount of pain medication. I will not lie, it was a terrible thing to watch. This experience made me so much more aware of the importance of having other options for death when an individual is terminal and suffering. In sharing, I hope to bring awareness to an experience that is rarely talked and misunderstood. . . . . . 💌DM "Support" for grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
I burned my whole world down when my husband died 🔥  Ryan's death stripped me of everything I thought I knew about myself and what I wanted from life. I knew there were those that expected me to mourn and live a certain way and I didn't meet those standards or expectations. I broke every rule.  I dated soon after my husband died.  I quit my stable career in law to follow my passion and help others like myself reeling from a loss.  I moved 14 months after my husband died.  I started sharing the vulnerable and hard about grief to millions of people.  I didn't hide my joy or the beautiful life I was creating.  I didn't hide who I had become in the aftermath of tragedy.  I said "F it" to every standard of what a "good widow" should look and act because it didn't feel authentic to who I was or my grief.  We often become so wrapped up in the "shoulds" and "should nots" because we are afraid of what people will say and think that we give up our own desires and comfort for everyone else's. This is how you remain stuck in your life after loss. When you make decisions based off your own wants, needs, and desires after your life is rearranged by death the pieces fall exactly how they are meant to.  You could die today. When that day comes don't you want to be living the version of life that YOU created, instead of someone else's version of your own life?  If you're ready to start creating a life that's right for you and your grief and learn to drown at the noise, see below for next steps to work with me.  . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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I burned my whole world down when my husband died 🔥 Ryan's death stripped me of everything I thought I knew about myself and what I wanted from life. I knew there were those that expected me to mourn and live a certain way and I didn't meet those standards or expectations. I broke every rule. I dated soon after my husband died. I quit my stable career in law to follow my passion and help others like myself reeling from a loss. I moved 14 months after my husband died. I started sharing the vulnerable and hard about grief to millions of people. I didn't hide my joy or the beautiful life I was creating. I didn't hide who I had become in the aftermath of tragedy. I said "F it" to every standard of what a "good widow" should look and act because it didn't feel authentic to who I was or my grief. We often become so wrapped up in the "shoulds" and "should nots" because we are afraid of what people will say and think that we give up our own desires and comfort for everyone else's. This is how you remain stuck in your life after loss. When you make decisions based off your own wants, needs, and desires after your life is rearranged by death the pieces fall exactly how they are meant to. You could die today. When that day comes don't you want to be living the version of life that YOU created, instead of someone else's version of your own life? If you're ready to start creating a life that's right for you and your grief and learn to drown at the noise, see below for next steps to work with me. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
This is hard to admit to myself, let alone admit to the world. But after my husband died, I lost my patience and empathy for most people’s everyday “problems.”  I would think to myself while I was out in the world, hearing other people complain about these types of things and think “These people really have no idea what real problems are.” I wanted to scream at all of them to stop complaining and get some damn perspective. I wanted to yell, “Well your mocha latte is cold? That’s a damn shame. Well, my husband is dead!”  I was angry. I was envious. I was irritable and impatient. I hated that people could worry about their problems that could be mended or resolved. I was stuck in a world where my problems could not be fixed or restored. I had lost my ability to care about other people’s everyday concerns and problems because I compared my loss to everything. Everyone else’s inconveniences didn’t matter comparatively to my earth-shattering loss.  And this is really what it is like when you are in the depths of early grief. You compare your BIG, unsolvable, unimaginable problems to everyone else’s normal problems that you had the privilege of worrying about before your loss. It takes a long time to start regulating yourself to start caring and empathizing with other people after your world falls apart. The thing is this. I didn’t have the perspective I do now and many people don’t have the perspective you do.  If you're feeling overwhelmed by your own loss, see below for resources and how to work with me👇🏻 . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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This is hard to admit to myself, let alone admit to the world. But after my husband died, I lost my patience and empathy for most people’s everyday “problems.”  I would think to myself while I was out in the world, hearing other people complain about these types of things and think “These people really have no idea what real problems are.” I wanted to scream at all of them to stop complaining and get some damn perspective. I wanted to yell, “Well your mocha latte is cold? That’s a damn shame. Well, my husband is dead!”  I was angry. I was envious. I was irritable and impatient. I hated that people could worry about their problems that could be mended or resolved. I was stuck in a world where my problems could not be fixed or restored. I had lost my ability to care about other people’s everyday concerns and problems because I compared my loss to everything. Everyone else’s inconveniences didn’t matter comparatively to my earth-shattering loss.  And this is really what it is like when you are in the depths of early grief. You compare your BIG, unsolvable, unimaginable problems to everyone else’s normal problems that you had the privilege of worrying about before your loss. It takes a long time to start regulating yourself to start caring and empathizing with other people after your world falls apart. The thing is this. I didn’t have the perspective I do now and many people don’t have the perspective you do. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your own loss, see below for resources and how to work with me👇🏻 . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
To all of you who are missing a loved one this Christmas Eve, I am so sorry for your pain and I am holding so much space for you while you're managing and coping with the unimaginable ❤️ I hope this helps in some way 🙏🏻 . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefjourney #griefsupport  #griefandloss #griefislove #griefhealing #copingwithgrief  #thisisgrief #griefcoach #griefwork #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #widowstrong #widowsupport #widowshelpingwidows #hotyoungwidowsclub  #hopeforwidows #widowcoach #k9officer #loveafterloss #policewife #leowife #griefhealing . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
God saw my struggle as a young widow with a baby and a toddler and he gave us a safe place to land ❤️  My fiancé, Anthony, and I met when I was just starting to discover who I was in the aftermath of an unimaginable loss. I had been stripped of so much of who I was in my life before and I was picking up the broken pieces and trying to make sense of a life that felt scary and out of control. I had no energy to hide my brokenness and darkness. I had no energy to hide how messy and complex my life was as a widow and a solo mom.  I remember the first weekend he spent with us, Leo started screaming in the middle of the night and I was so exhausted from not sleeping for months on end and he jumped out of bed to get the baby a bottle and feed him. No hesitation. The first time I was able to take a nap in more than a year, I came down to Anthony folding laundry, a happy cooing baby, and Jackson playing with legos. He has always treated us like we were his responsibility to take care of. I could finally rest and allow someone else to carry some of the heavy load we carry as widows.  All the messiness was out for him to see and he still chose to love us, care for us, and treat us as if we were his own right from the start. Without question. Without wavering or games or confusion. He has always been so steadfast in his devotion and commitment to us.  So many prayers answered seems like an understatement....Two more sleeps till "I do" 👰🏼‍♀️ . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
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God saw my struggle as a young widow with a baby and a toddler and he gave us a safe place to land ❤️ My fiancé, Anthony, and I met when I was just starting to discover who I was in the aftermath of an unimaginable loss. I had been stripped of so much of who I was in my life before and I was picking up the broken pieces and trying to make sense of a life that felt scary and out of control. I had no energy to hide my brokenness and darkness. I had no energy to hide how messy and complex my life was as a widow and a solo mom. I remember the first weekend he spent with us, Leo started screaming in the middle of the night and I was so exhausted from not sleeping for months on end and he jumped out of bed to get the baby a bottle and feed him. No hesitation. The first time I was able to take a nap in more than a year, I came down to Anthony folding laundry, a happy cooing baby, and Jackson playing with legos. He has always treated us like we were his responsibility to take care of. I could finally rest and allow someone else to carry some of the heavy load we carry as widows. All the messiness was out for him to see and he still chose to love us, care for us, and treat us as if we were his own right from the start. Without question. Without wavering or games or confusion. He has always been so steadfast in his devotion and commitment to us. So many prayers answered seems like an understatement....Two more sleeps till "I do" 👰🏼‍♀️ . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
I get asked all the time as a grief coach how to measure "progress" within the grief experience because it is often hard to gauge how we are doing when we are IN it. So here are a few tangible and practical ways to access your healing in grief: Everyday tasks that once took all your energy, attention, and focus become more manageable (i.e. getting out of bed, getting ready for the day, making yourself a meal, making a phone call, or completing a chore). You don't push away or busy yourself out of feeling uncomfortable emotions, you allow yourself to feel them so you can move through them and know you can bear them. You're able to identify what you're feeling and what to do to make yourself feel better. You use supportive coping mechanisms (like movement, therapy, and journaling) to deal with difficult situations and emotions and have transitioned from using unsupportive coping mechanisms like alcohol, drugs, doom scrolling, excessive shopping, etc. You're able to rest and be still without feeling like you're crawling out of your skin, anxious, or guilty. You allow yourself to feel joy without as much guilt as before because you understand you're deserving of happiness. You're able to nourish your body with a balanced diet and you're sleeping better. Which one(s) have you noticed? . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
5.0k
I get asked all the time as a grief coach how to measure "progress" within the grief experience because it is often hard to gauge how we are doing when we are IN it. So here are a few tangible and practical ways to access your healing in grief: Everyday tasks that once took all your energy, attention, and focus become more manageable (i.e. getting out of bed, getting ready for the day, making yourself a meal, making a phone call, or completing a chore). You don't push away or busy yourself out of feeling uncomfortable emotions, you allow yourself to feel them so you can move through them and know you can bear them. You're able to identify what you're feeling and what to do to make yourself feel better. You use supportive coping mechanisms (like movement, therapy, and journaling) to deal with difficult situations and emotions and have transitioned from using unsupportive coping mechanisms like alcohol, drugs, doom scrolling, excessive shopping, etc. You're able to rest and be still without feeling like you're crawling out of your skin, anxious, or guilty. You allow yourself to feel joy without as much guilt as before because you understand you're deserving of happiness. You're able to nourish your body with a balanced diet and you're sleeping better. Which one(s) have you noticed? . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
Many people do not understand the complexities that come with a widow dating and/or opening herself up to the potential of finding love again after the death of a spouse.  It takes a lot of courage after a loss to even be open enough to date another person.  It takes a lot of courage to open up to the possibility of love and potential loss again or a broken heart.  It’s scary, confusing, and unearths so many facets of grief when you begin dating or venture into the realm of another relationship after losing the person you thought was your “forever person.” And when a widow is lucky enough to find someone that can help shoulder the weight of her grief and be patient, kind, understanding, and loving to her and her children (if that’s the case) there should only be a few things you say, but they should all sound close to “I’m happy for you.” And if you can’t say that—silence is second best 🤫 As widows we have walked through fire and survived. We have been through tragedy beyond many people’s comprehension. If we find love again after all the heartache and pain (no matter when the universe or God puts it in our path) it is something to celebrate—because it is truly miraculous and a blessing🙏🏻❤️ If you’re a widow and willing to share your love after loss story, I’d love to hear it below. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
5.0k
Many people do not understand the complexities that come with a widow dating and/or opening herself up to the potential of finding love again after the death of a spouse. It takes a lot of courage after a loss to even be open enough to date another person. It takes a lot of courage to open up to the possibility of love and potential loss again or a broken heart. It’s scary, confusing, and unearths so many facets of grief when you begin dating or venture into the realm of another relationship after losing the person you thought was your “forever person.” And when a widow is lucky enough to find someone that can help shoulder the weight of her grief and be patient, kind, understanding, and loving to her and her children (if that’s the case) there should only be a few things you say, but they should all sound close to “I’m happy for you.” And if you can’t say that—silence is second best 🤫 As widows we have walked through fire and survived. We have been through tragedy beyond many people’s comprehension. If we find love again after all the heartache and pain (no matter when the universe or God puts it in our path) it is something to celebrate—because it is truly miraculous and a blessing🙏🏻❤️ If you’re a widow and willing to share your love after loss story, I’d love to hear it below. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
Before my late husband, Ryan, suffered an anoxic brain injury from going into cardiac arrest, I was naive to the insidious nature of brain injuries. The way brain injuries take hold of the essence of a soul and squeezes the life out of the person it inhabits—leaving them utterly and completely helpless and broken.  The hardest thing about seeing Ryan after his accident was the fact that I had loved and knew so intimately the man he was in the “before.” He went from being a strong, capable, intelligent, funny, and charismatic man and father to being more helpless than a baby in a matter of 20 minutes when his brain was deprived of oxygen.  No one can prepare you for how devastating it feels when you have to sit by the man that made sure you were safe and taken care of everyday for 10 years, and watch him become a shell of the man you once knew.  Toward the end of Ryan’s life, when he was still in rehab, I would hide in the bathroom when they changed his briefs or transferred him to his wheelchair. I was done seeing him not be the healthy, vibrant man I knew and I physically and emotionally couldn’t handle the sight. I continue to feel called to bring to light how devastating brain injuries can be and how painful it can be for families caring for a loved one with a brain injury. I hope this brings some awareness to it as I was blissfully unaware prior to October 14, 2021.  . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
4.4k
Before my late husband, Ryan, suffered an anoxic brain injury from going into cardiac arrest, I was naive to the insidious nature of brain injuries. The way brain injuries take hold of the essence of a soul and squeezes the life out of the person it inhabits—leaving them utterly and completely helpless and broken. The hardest thing about seeing Ryan after his accident was the fact that I had loved and knew so intimately the man he was in the “before.” He went from being a strong, capable, intelligent, funny, and charismatic man and father to being more helpless than a baby in a matter of 20 minutes when his brain was deprived of oxygen. No one can prepare you for how devastating it feels when you have to sit by the man that made sure you were safe and taken care of everyday for 10 years, and watch him become a shell of the man you once knew. Toward the end of Ryan’s life, when he was still in rehab, I would hide in the bathroom when they changed his briefs or transferred him to his wheelchair. I was done seeing him not be the healthy, vibrant man I knew and I physically and emotionally couldn’t handle the sight. I continue to feel called to bring to light how devastating brain injuries can be and how painful it can be for families caring for a loved one with a brain injury. I hope this brings some awareness to it as I was blissfully unaware prior to October 14, 2021. . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
For a while after the medical event that caused my husband’s death, life became performative. I felt so often that I was either “putting it on,” or numb from the trauma that I was floating through life, simply going about the motions like muscle memory without truly experiencing and feeling embodied in moving throughout the world with purpose. I would carry on a polite conversation, put on a pretty smile, and nod my head to the many platitudes I would hear. All the while, I was screaming and jumping out of my skin on the inside. Social norms and expectations impose restrictions on “the right way” to act in public even in agonizing grief. But many times, we become afraid of letting ourselves truly unravel, even when we can. We stifle and push all of the emotions and energy down that are intended to be liberated from our bodies, so it doesn’t consume us. We make our pain more consumable for the masses and ourselves because we are afraid of what will come out of us if we let ourselves truly go into the darkness. We think that if we let ourselves dip into that ocean of sadness we will drown in it. That we won’t come out of it. So it is understandable that so many grievers struggle with the dichotomy of their internal grief world and what is portrayed to the world. We may look "OK," or like we are "doing so well," on the outside because honestly, that is what society expects of us when inside we are struggling or crumbling. If you're seeking a soft place to land in your grief, see below for the ways to work with me. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
4.2k
For a while after the medical event that caused my husband’s death, life became performative. I felt so often that I was either “putting it on,” or numb from the trauma that I was floating through life, simply going about the motions like muscle memory without truly experiencing and feeling embodied in moving throughout the world with purpose. I would carry on a polite conversation, put on a pretty smile, and nod my head to the many platitudes I would hear. All the while, I was screaming and jumping out of my skin on the inside. Social norms and expectations impose restrictions on “the right way” to act in public even in agonizing grief. But many times, we become afraid of letting ourselves truly unravel, even when we can. We stifle and push all of the emotions and energy down that are intended to be liberated from our bodies, so it doesn’t consume us. We make our pain more consumable for the masses and ourselves because we are afraid of what will come out of us if we let ourselves truly go into the darkness. We think that if we let ourselves dip into that ocean of sadness we will drown in it. That we won’t come out of it. So it is understandable that so many grievers struggle with the dichotomy of their internal grief world and what is portrayed to the world. We may look "OK," or like we are "doing so well," on the outside because honestly, that is what society expects of us when inside we are struggling or crumbling. If you're seeking a soft place to land in your grief, see below for the ways to work with me. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
If I could go back to the time before my husband's accident, there is so much I would do differently.  There is so much I would make sure I knew and understood about what my husband, Ryan, wanted if anything happened to him and what would be the most significant and important to him as the boys and I went through our lives without him. I would make sure we had the really tough conversations even if they we didn't want to talk about these terrible, unimaginable things.  We didn't have a lot of these conversations and so I had to make really difficult decisions on my own without truly knowing what Ryan wanted. All my decisions were in his best interest (or so I thought), but I truly wish I didn't have to make any decisions in crisis and that I just knew exactly what to do. I didn't know so much. I still don't know if I did exactly what he would have wanted. But I did the best I could.  If you're reading this and have a spouse or significant other, here is your sign to start having those really tough, messy, and unpleasant conversations. I wish I had fought for them. I wish I had some insight into so many things I have to guess and wonder now for myself. It's too late for me, but it's not too late for you if your spouse is still here ❤️ I hope you never have to know the answers to these questions, but I promise they will mean more than you know if you ever do need to know.  What are some things you wish you had asked your spouse before they died?  . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . If I could go back to the time before my husband's accident, there is so much I would do differently.  There is so much I would make sure I knew and understood about what my husband, Ryan, wanted if anything happened to him and what would be the most significant and important to him as the boys and I went through our lives without him. I would make sure we had the really tough conversations even if they we didn't want to talk about these terrible, unimaginable things.  We didn't have a lot of these conversations and so I had to make really difficult decisions on my own without truly knowing what Ryan wanted. All my decisions were in his best interest (or so I thought), but I truly wish I didn't have to make any decisions in crisis and that I just knew exactly what to do. I didn't know so much. I still don't know if I did exactly what he would have wanted. But I did the best I could.  If you're reading this and have a spouse or significant other, here is your sign to start having those really tough, messy, and unpleasant conversations. I wish I had fought for them. I wish I had some insight into so many things I have to guess and wonder now for myself. It's too late for me, but it's not too late for you if your spouse is still here ❤️ I hope you never have to know the answers to these questions, but I promise they will mean more than you know if you ever do need to know.  What are some things you wish you had asked your spouse before they died?  . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefjourney #griefsupport  #griefandloss #griefislove #griefhealing #copingwithgrief  #thisisgrief #griefcoach #griefwork #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #widowstrong #widowsupport #widowshelpingwidows #hotyoungwidowsclub  #hopeforwidows #widowcoach #k9officer #loveafterloss #policewife #leowife #griefhealing . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
4.1k
If I could go back to the time before my husband's accident, there is so much I would do differently. There is so much I would make sure I knew and understood about what my husband, Ryan, wanted if anything happened to him and what would be the most significant and important to him as the boys and I went through our lives without him. I would make sure we had the really tough conversations even if they we didn't want to talk about these terrible, unimaginable things. We didn't have a lot of these conversations and so I had to make really difficult decisions on my own without truly knowing what Ryan wanted. All my decisions were in his best interest (or so I thought), but I truly wish I didn't have to make any decisions in crisis and that I just knew exactly what to do. I didn't know so much. I still don't know if I did exactly what he would have wanted. But I did the best I could. If you're reading this and have a spouse or significant other, here is your sign to start having those really tough, messy, and unpleasant conversations. I wish I had fought for them. I wish I had some insight into so many things I have to guess and wonder now for myself. It's too late for me, but it's not too late for you if your spouse is still here ❤️ I hope you never have to know the answers to these questions, but I promise they will mean more than you know if you ever do need to know. What are some things you wish you had asked your spouse before they died? . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . If I could go back to the time before my husband's accident, there is so much I would do differently. There is so much I would make sure I knew and understood about what my husband, Ryan, wanted if anything happened to him and what would be the most significant and important to him as the boys and I went through our lives without him. I would make sure we had the really tough conversations even if they we didn't want to talk about these terrible, unimaginable things. We didn't have a lot of these conversations and so I had to make really difficult decisions on my own without truly knowing what Ryan wanted. All my decisions were in his best interest (or so I thought), but I truly wish I didn't have to make any decisions in crisis and that I just knew exactly what to do. I didn't know so much. I still don't know if I did exactly what he would have wanted. But I did the best I could. If you're reading this and have a spouse or significant other, here is your sign to start having those really tough, messy, and unpleasant conversations. I wish I had fought for them. I wish I had some insight into so many things I have to guess and wonder now for myself. It's too late for me, but it's not too late for you if your spouse is still here ❤️ I hope you never have to know the answers to these questions, but I promise they will mean more than you know if you ever do need to know. What are some things you wish you had asked your spouse before they died? . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefjourney #griefsupport #griefandloss #griefislove #griefhealing #copingwithgrief #thisisgrief #griefcoach #griefwork #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #widowstrong #widowsupport #widowshelpingwidows #hotyoungwidowsclub #hopeforwidows #widowcoach #k9officer #loveafterloss #policewife #leowife #griefhealing . . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
I built a life with my late husband for 10 years before the fateful day that we lost him and life as we knew it was forever changed. For a decade I knew the person I was with my husband. I knew what this world looked like and felt like. I was comfortable in this life, with the people that were in it, my identity within it, and my dreams and plans for the future. When your person dies your life as you know it up abruptly ends. There is a hard break in your life’s path and you are detoured in a completely different direction without the person that you were walking with for so long. It is natural and normal to feel lost, disoriented, and overwhelmed on this new path you find yourself. Even when you get your footing and step forward into a new life after loss, it can still feel strange and uncomfortable because it is different than the path you were on. Your brain hasn’t caught up to your new reality. It hasn’t gotten used to your new personality or the new way you have to perform daily tasks because everything now shares space with trauma and grief. The people that were once in your orbit may fade away and new ones will join. You may feel like your purpose in life is also altered. You may tolerate less because your expectations are higher now knowing that life can be cut so incredibly short and you want to focus on the quality of your time and who you spend it with. If this resonated with you and you need guidance to feel fully planted and comfortable in your life after loss, see below for practical grief resources and how to work with me in a 1:1 container. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
3.3k
I built a life with my late husband for 10 years before the fateful day that we lost him and life as we knew it was forever changed. For a decade I knew the person I was with my husband. I knew what this world looked like and felt like. I was comfortable in this life, with the people that were in it, my identity within it, and my dreams and plans for the future. When your person dies your life as you know it up abruptly ends. There is a hard break in your life’s path and you are detoured in a completely different direction without the person that you were walking with for so long. It is natural and normal to feel lost, disoriented, and overwhelmed on this new path you find yourself. Even when you get your footing and step forward into a new life after loss, it can still feel strange and uncomfortable because it is different than the path you were on. Your brain hasn’t caught up to your new reality. It hasn’t gotten used to your new personality or the new way you have to perform daily tasks because everything now shares space with trauma and grief. The people that were once in your orbit may fade away and new ones will join. You may feel like your purpose in life is also altered. You may tolerate less because your expectations are higher now knowing that life can be cut so incredibly short and you want to focus on the quality of your time and who you spend it with. If this resonated with you and you need guidance to feel fully planted and comfortable in your life after loss, see below for practical grief resources and how to work with me in a 1:1 container. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
When my husband, Ryan, died at the age of 35, I was catapulted into the world of grief and trauma. Having been dropped right into that dark abyss, I realized that as a society we don’t talk about the grief experience enough. I was so ill-prepared to know what to expect, what grief would feel like in my body and mind, and the after-shock in my world after the funeral was over, and therefore I found the experience to be equally terrifying and frustrating. I often felt like I was going completely crazy when I was having normal reactions to a tremendous loss. I simply didn't know what I didn't know. Perhaps if you've been through a loss as well, you can wholeheartedly relate to that. After Ryan died I knew why I had been put on this Earth. The real reason why I am here is to help those who have been through a life-altering loss learn how to carry a forever pain so they can still have a beautiful and meaningful life AND also educate the world on what this experience is actually like so no one will be as ill-prepared as I was. I have been tasked with teaching about grief and reducing the amount of judgment, criticism, shame, and ignorance from those who do not understand so that grievers can feel supported. My assignment hasn’t been easy and has often come with a lot of judgment thrown at me, but I am grounded in my WHY because this work is important. If this resonated with you and you need support, see below for tangible and practical grief support options from someone who knows exactly what you're going through. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat  💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
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When my husband, Ryan, died at the age of 35, I was catapulted into the world of grief and trauma. Having been dropped right into that dark abyss, I realized that as a society we don’t talk about the grief experience enough. I was so ill-prepared to know what to expect, what grief would feel like in my body and mind, and the after-shock in my world after the funeral was over, and therefore I found the experience to be equally terrifying and frustrating. I often felt like I was going completely crazy when I was having normal reactions to a tremendous loss. I simply didn't know what I didn't know. Perhaps if you've been through a loss as well, you can wholeheartedly relate to that. After Ryan died I knew why I had been put on this Earth. The real reason why I am here is to help those who have been through a life-altering loss learn how to carry a forever pain so they can still have a beautiful and meaningful life AND also educate the world on what this experience is actually like so no one will be as ill-prepared as I was. I have been tasked with teaching about grief and reducing the amount of judgment, criticism, shame, and ignorance from those who do not understand so that grievers can feel supported. My assignment hasn’t been easy and has often come with a lot of judgment thrown at me, but I am grounded in my WHY because this work is important. If this resonated with you and you need support, see below for tangible and practical grief support options from someone who knows exactly what you're going through. . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Retreat" for my widow's retreat 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
The hardest thing about living with grief is that life instantly becomes more complicated when your person dies. You are now a person with an expanded set of accessible emotions, some of which are dark and heavy. You are now a person with a compromised nervous system that needs to learn how to regulate AND stay in a state of healthy balance. You are now a person who cannot just experience joyful moments without pain co-existing with it. You are now a person who knows that tragic things can happen to you. Living with grief can never be the same experience as living without it. But there is still so much hope and beauty to be found even in a world living with grief. As a grief coach, I’ve helped dozens of my 1:1 clients with the following: *How to feel, process, and manage uncomfortable emotions without them feeling all-consuming. *How to regulate your nervous system and start living life in the present moment. *How to have joy and pain co-exist in harmony. *How to find peace with the uncertainty of the future, but still control what you can in your day-to-day life. *How to feel empowered when the bad days do come and know you can bear and move through them. *How to tap into the gifts of grief when you change your relationship to it. *And so much more… The new year is a great time to commit to yourself and if you start now, your life will look and feel so incredibly different in a few months. So what are you waiting for? If this inspired you, see below for how to connect with me. . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #g#grievingprocessg#griefcoachg#griefjourneyy#youngwidowy#youngwidowsw#widowedandyoungw#widoww#widowsw#widowhoodw#widowlifew#widowedw#widowedmoma#anaphylaxisa#anaphylacticshocka#anoxiaa#anoxicbraininjurya#anoxicd#deathg#griefandlossd#deathanddying. . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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The hardest thing about living with grief is that life instantly becomes more complicated when your person dies. You are now a person with an expanded set of accessible emotions, some of which are dark and heavy. You are now a person with a compromised nervous system that needs to learn how to regulate AND stay in a state of healthy balance. You are now a person who cannot just experience joyful moments without pain co-existing with it. You are now a person who knows that tragic things can happen to you. Living with grief can never be the same experience as living without it. But there is still so much hope and beauty to be found even in a world living with grief. As a grief coach, I’ve helped dozens of my 1:1 clients with the following: *How to feel, process, and manage uncomfortable emotions without them feeling all-consuming. *How to regulate your nervous system and start living life in the present moment. *How to have joy and pain co-exist in harmony. *How to find peace with the uncertainty of the future, but still control what you can in your day-to-day life. *How to feel empowered when the bad days do come and know you can bear and move through them. *How to tap into the gifts of grief when you change your relationship to it. *And so much more… The new year is a great time to commit to yourself and if you start now, your life will look and feel so incredibly different in a few months. So what are you waiting for? If this inspired you, see below for how to connect with me. . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #g#grievingprocessg#griefcoachg#griefjourneyy#youngwidowy#youngwidowsw#widowedandyoungw#widoww#widowsw#widowhoodw#widowlifew#widowedw#widowedmoma#anaphylaxisa#anaphylacticshocka#anoxiaa#anoxicbraininjurya#anoxicd#deathg#griefandlossd#deathanddying. . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
2025 I hope you're real cute 🥹 Happy New Year fam ❤️ . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefjourney #griefsupport  #griefandloss #griefislove #griefhealing #copingwithgrief  #thisisgrief #griefcoach #griefwork #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #widowstrong #widowsupport #widowshelpingwidows #hotyoungwidowsclub  #hopeforwidows #widowcoach #k9officer #loveafterloss #policewife #leowife #griefhealing . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
We often treat grief like it's an Olympic sport. We act like if we can just grieve "better" or the "right" way, it can be eliminated. We make our grief small, often invisible, because we don't want to burden anyone with how intense and dark the grief experience can be. We even make grief small for ourselves. We push it away or push it down because there is so much fear in feeling the pain, and there are so many other "productive" things we can be doing than allowing ourselves to fall apart. We put on a smile when we are screaming inside, and often, we put aside our own wants, needs, and desires because we are so desperate for the approval of others. We people please so we don't suffer any more losses. "Who could survive another loss?" you may ask yourself. But each time you sacrifice what you need for someone else, you give away a part of yourself. We are so hard on ourselves if we are having a bad day or when we can't get through a day without crying because we are still trying to figure out HOW to do life without our person. Grief isn't something you can do better than anyone else. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. You don't win by eliminating it or pushing it down. You aren't a better person or griever because you sacrifice what you need or hide what you feel for others' happiness and consumption. And learning to live peacefully with grief after the death of someone you love is the hardest thing you'll ever do. If you need help, see below for practical grief resources and the next steps to explore 1:1 grief support. . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
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We often treat grief like it's an Olympic sport. We act like if we can just grieve "better" or the "right" way, it can be eliminated. We make our grief small, often invisible, because we don't want to burden anyone with how intense and dark the grief experience can be. We even make grief small for ourselves. We push it away or push it down because there is so much fear in feeling the pain, and there are so many other "productive" things we can be doing than allowing ourselves to fall apart. We put on a smile when we are screaming inside, and often, we put aside our own wants, needs, and desires because we are so desperate for the approval of others. We people please so we don't suffer any more losses. "Who could survive another loss?" you may ask yourself. But each time you sacrifice what you need for someone else, you give away a part of yourself. We are so hard on ourselves if we are having a bad day or when we can't get through a day without crying because we are still trying to figure out HOW to do life without our person. Grief isn't something you can do better than anyone else. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. You don't win by eliminating it or pushing it down. You aren't a better person or griever because you sacrifice what you need or hide what you feel for others' happiness and consumption. And learning to live peacefully with grief after the death of someone you love is the hardest thing you'll ever do. If you need help, see below for practical grief resources and the next steps to explore 1:1 grief support. . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying
I started to hate New Years after my husband died. I still don't like New Years. Mostly I don't like how New Year's is an arbitrary date that we have decided is the time to reflect on the last 12 months of our lives and somehow decide how to do better the next 12 months.  Because what if all you did was survive the last 12 months?  What if the last 12 months were filled with trauma and heartbreak?  What if you weren't able to accomplish any quantifiable goal?  What if you simply don't have the capacity to make goals or look into the future because it's just too excruciatingly painful to think about an unknown future especially if you're experienced a loss?  If you also feel behind because the unrealistic expectations of what your year "should" have looked like based on others highlight reels, please know that you did the best you could.  The little, everyday mundane moments you survived were good enough. From making the bed, to filling the fridge with groceries, or taking that morning walk. You did them tired. You did them broken. You did them when you felt like you couldn't. They were acts of courage and resilience and hope. You should be proud without feeling the pressure to be and do more. Whatever your year looked like, is enough. You're enough.  To those that simply survived this year, I'm holding space for you ❤️🙏🏻  . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
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I started to hate New Years after my husband died. I still don't like New Years. Mostly I don't like how New Year's is an arbitrary date that we have decided is the time to reflect on the last 12 months of our lives and somehow decide how to do better the next 12 months. Because what if all you did was survive the last 12 months? What if the last 12 months were filled with trauma and heartbreak? What if you weren't able to accomplish any quantifiable goal? What if you simply don't have the capacity to make goals or look into the future because it's just too excruciatingly painful to think about an unknown future especially if you're experienced a loss? If you also feel behind because the unrealistic expectations of what your year "should" have looked like based on others highlight reels, please know that you did the best you could. The little, everyday mundane moments you survived were good enough. From making the bed, to filling the fridge with groceries, or taking that morning walk. You did them tired. You did them broken. You did them when you felt like you couldn't. They were acts of courage and resilience and hope. You should be proud without feeling the pressure to be and do more. Whatever your year looked like, is enough. You're enough. To those that simply survived this year, I'm holding space for you ❤️🙏🏻 . . . . 💌DM "Support" for 1:1 grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . . . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
I was asked recently why I have devoted my professional life to helping those grieving devastating losses when I have to carry my own grief from the death of my husband.  The truth is that when my late husband, Ryan, died the pull of the darkness was so strong, it scared me. It was so easy to surrender and allow grief to overwhelm me to the point where I was breathing, but I wasn’t living. I understood that when people go through life-altering losses, this can be and often is the reason for people to stop living, and I knew I deserved better, and grievers deserve better. It was a matter of being the person who shows those struggling how to help themselves through an experience that you can easily lose yourself in.  I also realized after Ryan died how ill-prepared I was to experience grief. I felt scared, confused, and lost because there had been nothing in my life prior that taught me what the grief experience is really like. I learned that grief is much more complex than what I learned from family members, school, or mainstream media. There were many experiences and feelings I lived through that felt taboo or shameful because I didn’t know it was normal in grief. I wanted to shed light on the real and raw parts of grief so no one would have to feel as alone as I did.  I hope this helps you realize that so many things you’re experiencing right now in grief are completely normal. You’re not crazy. There is nothing wrong with you, and you’re not “behind” if you’re struggling. See below for grief resources and how to work with me.  . . . 💌DM "Support" for grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying  . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.
2.1k
I was asked recently why I have devoted my professional life to helping those grieving devastating losses when I have to carry my own grief from the death of my husband. The truth is that when my late husband, Ryan, died the pull of the darkness was so strong, it scared me. It was so easy to surrender and allow grief to overwhelm me to the point where I was breathing, but I wasn’t living. I understood that when people go through life-altering losses, this can be and often is the reason for people to stop living, and I knew I deserved better, and grievers deserve better. It was a matter of being the person who shows those struggling how to help themselves through an experience that you can easily lose yourself in. I also realized after Ryan died how ill-prepared I was to experience grief. I felt scared, confused, and lost because there had been nothing in my life prior that taught me what the grief experience is really like. I learned that grief is much more complex than what I learned from family members, school, or mainstream media. There were many experiences and feelings I lived through that felt taboo or shameful because I didn’t know it was normal in grief. I wanted to shed light on the real and raw parts of grief so no one would have to feel as alone as I did. I hope this helps you realize that so many things you’re experiencing right now in grief are completely normal. You’re not crazy. There is nothing wrong with you, and you’re not “behind” if you’re struggling. See below for grief resources and how to work with me. . . . 💌DM "Support" for grief support 💌DM "Carried" to preorder my 2nd book 💌DM "Running " for my book 💌DM "Email" to sign up for my list . . . . #grievingprocess #griefcoach #griefjourney #youngwidow #youngwidows #widowedandyoung #widow #widows #widowhood #widowlife #widowed #widowedmom #anaphylaxis #anaphylacticshock #anoxia #anoxicbraininjury #anoxic #death #griefandloss #deathanddying . Grief coach for widows. Helping widows lost in grief find joy and purpose after loss.

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