Journey to Grateful

Grief changes us, sometimes in ways we never expected. It can feel like our loss becomes the only story we have, the defining identity we carry everywhere. But grief is just one chapter of who we are. In this episode, we explore the idea that your grief is part of your story, but not all of it, and what it means to make space for the and. You can miss who you love and still grow. You can remember...

What happens when joy — or even love — returns after loss? For many of us, the first flicker of happiness can feel confusing, even disloyal. In this episode, Tim explores the emotional complexity of allowing new joy to coexist with grief — whether it shows up as friendship, creativity, self-discovery, or romantic love. Through the story of his late wife, Colleen, who rebuilt her life after loss an...

After loss, we find ourselves caught between two worlds — the life we once knew and the one we never asked to live. In this episode, Tim explores that difficult in-between space where identity, purpose, and belonging feel uncertain. Through his own story of rebuilding life after the death of his wife, Colleen — from purchasing a townhome in their family’s “happy place” near Disney to rediscovering...

We often hear that finding “closure” means we’ve healed — that one day, grief will neatly wrap itself up and let us move on. But grief doesn’t end; it transforms. In this episode, we’ll explore why the idea of closure can actually work against our healing, how to replace it with integration, and what it means to live a full, meaningful life while still carrying the love of someone we’ve lost. Thro...

We often hear people talk about “moving on” after loss — but what if that idea is completely wrong? In this episode, I explore what it truly means to move through grief instead. Because grief isn’t something we get over or leave behind — it’s something we learn to live with. When we understand that grief will always be part of our lives, just as our love for the person we lost will always be part...

Hope in grief doesn’t come quickly — and it never replaces the love or the loss. But over time, meaning can begin to emerge in unexpected ways: through advocacy, creativity, or simply a quiet shift in how we choose to live. In this episode, When Grief Meets Hope: Stories of Meaning Found in the Aftermath, we explore what it means to hold both grief and hope at the same time — to find light without...

Rituals can connect us to the people we loved and lost, and they can also evolve as we do. In this intimate conversation, we explore how to create simple rituals that support early grief, how to adapt long-standing traditions as life changes, and how to release practices that no longer fit, all without guilt. You’ll hear practical ideas, scripts for navigating family dynamics, a gentle holiday pla...

Loss doesn’t just change our world — it changes who we are. In this episode, we’ll explore one of the most unsettling questions after loss: Who am I now without them? When a spouse, partner, parent, or loved one dies, our sense of identity can feel fractured. The roles we once filled no longer fit, and the person we were before grief feels far away. Together, we’ll talk about what it means to live...

When we lose someone we love, it’s not just their absence we grieve. Friendships shift. Traditions unravel. Financial strain. Roles we once filled suddenly disappear. These are the secondary losses — the hidden griefs that surface long after the initial shock has passed. In this episode, we’ll explore those quieter, often unspoken parts of loss: the relationships that fade, the routines that chang...

Grief doesn’t just show up on anniversaries or holidays — it can sneak into the grocery store, the car ride home, or a favorite recipe. In this episode, we’ll talk about how the most ordinary moments can suddenly carry extraordinary weight, and how to give yourself grace when grief feels like it’s everywhere.

When someone you love is grieving, it’s hard to know what to say—or what not to say. In this episode of Journey to Grateful , I explore the power of words during times of loss and how our intentions, though kind, can sometimes fall short. Learn how to offer genuine comfort, what phrases to avoid, and how presence and empathy can mean far more than perfect words ever could. This episode is for anyo...

As the season turns to autumn, grief can feel sharper. The falling leaves, shorter days, and cooler nights echo the endings we carry inside. In this episode, I explore how the shadows of this season—memories, loneliness, and the anticipation of holidays—can stir grief, while the light of autumn offers small comforts and reminders of beauty. I share reflections, simple practices, and ways we can le...

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I explore the often-misunderstood difference between “moving on” and “moving forward” after loss. While the phrase “move on” suggests leaving our loved ones behind, the reality is far different. Moving forward means carrying their love, their influence, and their memory with us into the life we are still building. I share personal reflections — from childhoo...

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I share a deeply personal truth I’ve discovered in grief: that honoring our loved ones doesn’t mean staying stuck in mourning them. It means finding the courage to live fully, carrying their memory with us in every step forward. I talk about the tension between grief and guilt, and how we can shift the question from “Am I allowed to move forward?” to “How ca...

Grief comes in many forms — the loss of a spouse, a child, a parent, a sibling, or a close friend. Each loss is devastating in its own way, yet too often we fall into the trap of comparing one grief to another. In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I explore why grief should never be measured against someone else’s pain and how compassion allows us to connect across different kinds of loss. Thro...

The decision of whether — or when — to take off your wedding ring after losing a spouse is one of the most personal and emotional choices we face in grief. It’s not simply about jewelry; it’s about love, identity, and how we choose to honor the life we shared. In this episode, we’ll explore the many layers of this struggle: the pressure of outside expectations, the deep symbolism of the ring, and...

Losing someone you love doesn’t just take them from your life — it can feel like it takes you from yourself. In this heartfelt episode, I share how the death of my wife, Colleen, left me questioning who I was without her, and how grief reshapes our identity in quiet, complicated ways. From the roles we lose — spouse, partner, parent, child — to the slow, tentative steps of rediscovering who we are...

What happens when the world moves on, but your grief hasn’t? In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I reflect on the silence that often follows loss—when friends and family return to their normal routines, while you’re left navigating a reality that will never be the same. Now, more than five years after my wife Colleen’s passing, I share how grief continues to show up in unexpected ways, includi...

Grief doesn’t always come just once—it circles back when we least expect it. In this deeply personal episode, Tim shares the recent and sudden loss of a dear friend and how that grief ripples through his life, touching memories, love, and family all over again. From navigating the emotions of supporting a grieving family to confronting the echoes of his own loss, this conversation is a reminder th...

Milestones can carry a surprising weight in the grieving process. Birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays — even the quiet, ordinary dates that hold personal meaning — can stir up emotions we thought we’d tucked away. In this episode, we will explore how these moments can both ache with what’s missing and glow with the warmth of what was. Through personal stories, including the first anniversary of...

There’s no schedule for grief—yet so many of us feel the pressure to “move on” as weeks, months, or even years pass. In this heartfelt episode, Tim opens up about a recent, unexpected wave of emotion that reminded him just how present grief can still be, even five years later. Through a personal story of love, remembrance, and shared community, he explores why grief doesn’t expire, how it evolves...

Grief doesn’t just break your heart — it takes a toll on your entire body. In this episode of Journey to Grateful , host Tim Bigonia explores the physical symptoms of grief that often go unspoken: the fatigue, the brain fog, the muscle aches, the anxiety, and the general feeling that something just isn’t right. If you’ve recently experienced a loss, you may be wondering why your body feels so off....

Not all grief is tied to a moment or memory. Sometimes, the deepest pain comes from what never happened — the words left unsaid, the milestones missed, and the future you thought you’d share with someone you loved. In this episode of Journey to Grateful, we delve into the quiet, often unspoken aspect of grief: invisible losses. These are the “almosts,” the “what-ifs,” and the “we never got to…” mo...

In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I explore the powerful truth behind “It’s okay not to be okay.” I'll share why embracing your messy, honest feelings is not only normal but essential to healing. I'll also provide a heartfelt invitation to let go of the need to “be strong” and find real strength in simply being real. Today you will discover that it is truly okay not to be okay.

When a parent dies, teens face a unique, often silent struggle — and the surviving parent is left to guide them while carrying their own grief. In this heartfelt episode, Tim explores how parents can support their teen’s grief journey with compassion and patience, while helping them move forward in a healthy, authentic way. Learn how to hold space for your teen’s emotions, encourage an ongoing con...