Podcast

As Journey to Grateful grows its community I realized some may not fully understand why the title of this podcast has been chosen. I explain the thought process behind the name of the podcast and encourage everyone, no matter their experience, to find the grateful in their lives. Grief is a lengthy journey, one which can become an integral part of your life for the foreseeable future. Finding your "grateful" through your journey can help to ease the pain while providing you with solace and comfort. Listen as I explain how looking to gratitude has helped me and my wife before me. 

When experiencing and navigating grief there are times when you might wonder if you're doing it right. This Growing Through Grief Series episode quickly addresses that question not only with a direct answer but also explores the many additional aspects of how your grief will be different than someone else's grief. Join me as I discuss my experience with this exact question and what I've heard from many others. As we walk down our path of grief, there will be times you wonder how everyone else is dealing with specific areas of their journey, today we examine a few and open a discussion for you to share yours.

Welcome to Part 2 of the Ten Surprises of Grief episode. As I've said before, through my grief journey, I've experienced many aspects of grief that have surprised me. I've also discovered more surprising experiences others have had with family or friends which became a large reason I began this podcast. It has been important to demystify the grief journey and shine a spotlight on misconceptions related to grief which I believe is important for every one of us to understand. Join me as we discuss the last 5 items of the Ten Surprises of Grief that will, for some, come as no surprise and for many will be enlightening as they navigate their grief journey.

During this new weekly series, I will share with you details of my grief journey as it's happening this week. Today I share with you my thoughts on Ups and Downs during grief, something I've been experiencing a bit more lately. Downs are not obviously external and they often don't feel the same way every time. I explain what I've been feeling this week, why I believe I'm a bit down lately, and things you can do to support someone who might be down because of their grief journey. 

Through my grief journey, I've experienced many aspects of grief – internal and external – which have surprised me. During early meetings with my bereavement group, I discovered more surprising experiences others have had with family or friends which became a large reason I began this podcast. It has been important to demystify the grief journey and shine a spotlight on misconceptions related to grief which I believe is important for every one of us to understand. Join me as we discuss Ten Surprises of Grief that will, for some, come as no surprise and for many will be enlightening as they navigate their grief journey.

When trying to help a friend or family member through their loss journey it's important to remember not to try too hard. The simplest of gestures will make as much of a difference and often times more. Don't try to compare your experience, instead, show understanding what they may be feeling and offer to be there for them as they need. Make your offers of help specific and easy for your newly grieving friend to more easily accept. Make it less of a chore for them to think of how you can help and more of a helpful gesture that is easily accomplished. 

As with living life for most anyone with a house and children, things tend to pile up. Responsibilities, issues, repairs, and school. When you add the process of grief into the mix, many small, inconsequential things have a way of having a larger impact on you. In this episode I explain my current grief journey as it reflects on every-day-life and offer words of encouragement for those who are finding the simplest things in life to be a struggle.

With fall on the horizon, a seasonal transition here in the midwest becomes more obvious. With the shift of cooler weather, we find change is necessary to accept and move through. In grief, similar transitions are experienced far more than I ever thought possible. I've found only one thing that helps these transitions other than support, and that's maintaining a forward motion… one step at a time. Join me as I discuss this week's Growing Through Loss series episode focusing on Forward Motion.

Welcome to my new weekly series, Growing Through Loss. This series is designed to strip back the typically planned podcast episode with a more off-the-cuff discussion of experiences I've had over the last week as they relate to my loss journey. This week I take an honest look at beginning a new school year once again without my teammate, my wife. I reflect on my lack of planning as it compares to my wife's and how I stumble – albeit slightly –  with picture day, supplies, and just the usual transition back to school. Lastly, I make certain not to come down too hard on myself and strongly suggest the same for you when you experience similar moments. We're not provided a handbook on how to deal with loss, nor how to move forward from that loss. We can only do the best we can do… and occasionally lean on others for a little help when needed. Lean on me and our community if you need guidance… this journey truly takes a village.