Journey to Grateful

I'm joined in this episode by my friend, Angela Batista, owner of Adventures by Angela, but more importantly, a survivor of grief. Angela and I discuss experiencing loss at a pivotal point in her life and how she and her family have been shaped by the experience. We dive into the many seasons of life and embrace the wonderful experiences that can be found there. Join us as we discuss, discover, sh...

There comes a time when you have to consider if you are moving forward with your grief. In this episode, I ask the question and examine a few ways I have been moving forward. However, I've discovered over the past weeks I have work to do. Strides I need to make to truly move forward and I find that my late wife is a source of inspiration with this goal. Listen to see how she has inspired me to tak...

Throughout your grief journey, you will find there are several details of grief that will affect you differently as time moves on. Because of this, your path through grief will change, never looking like anyone else's experience, however, both paths can still have similarities. There is truly no right way to grieve, nor is there a proper path to follow. Instead, there are choices to be made, guida...

With grief comes envy. It's an unspoken side effect of loss which I believe is common, but not often mentioned. It approaches your everyday life as grief does, however with a much different result. It can be an additional internal fight with yourself, making you feel a bit selfish or possibly angry for the many lives around you moving on while you sit alone on the sidelines. I discuss how long env...

Supporting someone through their loss journey can be a challenging mission. Feeling helpless to make a difference is a common side-effect, but you need to understand, just being there is helpful enough. In this episode, we examine my experiences with those who've helped my family and me in common and unique ways. You don't have to feel like there's nothing you can do to help, you just have to cons...

For anyone experiencing this thing called life, it is easy to relate to the title of this episode; An Empty Tank. We all too often are running ourselves on an empty tank, not taking the time to refill what is empty or replenish what is needed. When dealing with the loss of someone, feeling empty becomes a whole new ache we were not prepared to feel. The need to focus on ourselves and refill what's...

Life is filled with many opportunities to make choices. Some may choose the good, while others may choose a darker path. In grief, choices are abundant as well. As we navigate through grief we can choose to face the day with strength and optimism, or sorrow and frustration. One thing is certain, no day is like the next. In this episode, I present a story that focuses on the power of choice. A simp...

This episode promises to provide you with a better way to understand yourself as well as others. It will help you identify why some friends may shy away from those hard subjects, while others dive in and have always been by your side. We identify key traits to find within yourself that can offer up a better understanding of how you feel, interact, process thoughts and emotions, and much more. I ch...

Forward motion in life is important, however, with loss comes the overwhelming sense of moving forward an impossibility. As with any challenge in life, taking one step at a time is the best way to gain enough momentum to move forward, no matter the pace. So the question remains, how does one take those steps forward? Although the answer is not an easy, one-size-fits-all solution, it does require t...

As we adjust to the new year ahead we see January as the start of something new. For those who are on their journey with grief, each month, each week, and for many, each day can feel the same, however, with the start of something much different. Not necessarily the promise of something new. To "Begin Again" becomes a daily aspect of your new life with its own peaks and valleys. Today we discuss a...

During this time between Christmas and the New Year, we often find ourselves reflecting back on the previous year. Taking stock in our successes, our failures, and the things that have affected our lives. Happiness is usually another measuring stick we use to establish the tone of the year that has come to an end, but when you are grieving, happiness, is at best, fleeting. Join me in this episode...

During Christmas, the joy and festivities presented by so many can be daunting to someone who is on their journey in grief. With the world tilted toward holiday cheer and everything merry, adding grief to this anxious time of year presents to many a nearly impossible task. To have a Merry Christmas… as usual. In this episode, I discuss ways to shift your mindset to still have a good holiday season...

After the loss of someone close, it is a common suggestion not to make any large changes in the first year. Good advice, however, when making changes anytime after loss, it is wise to understand that specific advice is not a one-size-fits-all scenario. As each experience is different, so too are the responses associated with that experience. When grieving, some may wait more than a year to clean o...

The holiday season is a tough time of year for many people, but it can be particularly difficult for those who are grieving. Grief is an individual experience that's different for everyone. Grieving the death of someone you love is never easy, especially during the holidays when memories are everywhere and traditions may not be observed in the same way anymore. Grief doesn't have to get in the way...

In this week's episode, I explore the positive benefits of joining a bereavement group as well as helping you to consider engaging a counselor. Support and help, when dealing with a significant loss, can come from many sources. For myself and my family, our community, our friends, and our vast families have been our primary support system. Supporting us during the diagnosis of my wife's breast can...

Through each experience in life, there are times when our own perspective could use a boost or a second look through different eyes. This episode offers a glimpse of just that, a new point-of-view from my daughter, Karen. Although a shorter episode of the Growing Through Loss Series, Karen and I touch upon her perspective of the support of others while on her own grief journey. A viewpoint not onl...

Let me be clear, the title of this episode doesn't relate to an experience I've had or a specific experience from anyone I know. Instead, it's the subject of a written piece by John Roedel that a good friend shared with me this past week. It is so good and on point, I felt I had to share it. It's a lengthy piece, so I've decided to read excerpts with some thoughts sprinkled in, sharing why a parti...

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...

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...

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 re...

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 thi...

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 g...

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 grie...

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 fin...

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....