The Leftover Pieces: Suicide Loss Conversations

"Healing is not the same as forgetting." Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s lean in Some people think moving forward means leaving the past behind. But grief teaches us otherwise. Healing is not the same as forgetting. Healing isn’t about...

"Grief does not follow a straight line." Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s lean in If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing grief wrong,” you’re not. "Grief does not follow a straight line." The path is messy. It loops back on its...

 “Silence can be a sacred companion.”  Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s begin.  Before we start, plant your feet and notice how the ground holds you. Even now, you are supported. Silence can be a sacred companion. One of grief’s quiet tricks is co...

“This loss rewrites your story.” Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s begin. Let's take a breath together. Let yourself arrive. Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold. Here’s today’s grief truth. This loss rewrites your sto...

“Grief teaches you who you are beneath the pain.”  Welcome, fellow griever.  This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s begin.  Take a breath. Let yourself arrive.  Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold.  Here’s today’s grief truth. Grief teaches you who you...

“Some days are sacred, no matter how much time has passed.” Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s begin. Take a breath. Or Two - or three. Let yourself arrive. Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold. Here’s today’s grief truth. S...

Nine years ago tomorrow, my son Alex died & every August 6th became the eternal last day. I hadn’t found those words until now. The day before everything changed. The last day of “before.” This is a poem I wrote when I woke today—rising from the weight—where memory meets survival. Most days, I carry grief with grace. My soul is expanded. Alex is always with me. I now do work I never would&apos...

“Memories hurt — and they can also heal.”  Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Let’s begin.  I invite you to take a breath -- or two. Let yourself arrive. Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold. Here’s today’s grief truth. Memories h...

“Guilt and love often feel the same.” August 5 Daily Nugget Take a breath. Let yourself arrive.  Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold.  Here’s today’s grief truth. Guilt and love often feel the same. Guilt is one of grief’s heaviest companions. It creeps in through the cracks of “what if” and “why didn’t I.” But here’s something I’ve come to learn: guilt often masquerades...

Today's Grief Truth - “Some days are lighter. Some days are heavy — and that’s okay.”  Welcome, fellow griever. This is your Daily Nugget from me, Melissa, your host of The Leftover Pieces. Today we will share a moment of presence, a breath of truth, and a reminder. Take a breath. Let yourself arrive. Sometimes we don’t need answers — just something true to hold. Here’s today’s grief truth. Y...

Today's Grief Truth - " Grief is Not Linear".  There’s no finish line here. No checklist. Grief is wild and unpredictable. You might feel “okay” one day — and the next, the wind knocks you flat. But that doesn’t mean you’re back at the beginning. It means you're walking through it honestly. Progress in grief doesn’t move forward like an arrow — it spirals. It folds back on itse...

 Here’s today’s grief truth.  “It’s okay to laugh and cry in the same hour.”  Grief is full of contradictions — and also full of truth. One moment, you’re sobbing in the car because their favorite song came on. The next, you're belly-laughing at the memory of something wild they once did. That swing? That unpredictability? It doesn’t mean you’re unstable — it means you’re human. We are wired...

Hello Fellow Griever— and Welcome Back. If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been… you’re not wrong. July was quieter than usual here on the podcast (totally quiet!) — but it wasn’t in vain. Behind the scenes, I’ve been pouring myself into some powerful new offerings: two brand-new grief coaching programs — each with their own beautiful workbook now published and available — and the long-awaited la...

Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please --- Support the show Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes — not just of the podcast, but of why I do all of this. Spoiler alert: it’s not about making six figures. Not even close to what it's about! It started with a mic, a grieving heart, and the hope that I could create th...

Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please --- Support the show You may have seen soft mentions of some new things I’ve been building — maybe in your inbox or on social — and today I’m diving all the way in. If this is the first you’re hearing of it, then welcome — you’re right on time. In this heart-led episode of Down the...

" Hello --It is May 31st and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 5: The FINALE for may 2025 Daily Nuggets Day 31: Today’s truth is: "You're still here. That matters." Idea: Completion, continuation,...

" Hello --It is May 30th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 5: The 3 Day Wrap -up for the Month Day 30: Today’s truth is: "Life, what is it but a dream?"  Idea: The surreal nature of life after loss....

" Hello --It is May 29th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 5: The 3 Day Wrap -up for the Month Day 29: Today’s truth is: (Finale echo) "I can't go back to yesterday..." Idea: Reinforcing transf...

" Hello --It is May 28th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation Day 28: Today’s truth is:  "Why did you come out here at all?" Idea: The isolation of grief.  There are day...

" Hello --It is May 27th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation Day 27: Today’s truth is: "It sounds uncommon nonsense." Idea: Navigating unhelpful advice.  Grief comes wi...

Welcome today fellow griever. I appreciate you, I see you and thank you so much for listening and if you can, please --- Support the show Today, I release a recent conversation with Betsy Thibaut Stephenson to talk about her son Charlie who was a smart, witty, reserved, and was (silently) living with being 'unmotivated' & being depressed. Despite doing what seemed like all of the rig...

" Hello --It is May 26th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation Day 26: Today's truth is: "I shall be punished... by being drowned in my own tears." Idea: Emotional o...

" Hello --It is May 25th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation Day 25: Today’s truth is: " Why is a raven like a writing desk?" Idea: Unanswerable questions.  This is one...

" Hello --It is May 24th and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK 4: Resilience & Reclamation Day 24: Today’s truth is: "Then you shouldn't talk." Idea: The silence around grief.  Sometimes, we si...

" Hello --It is May 23rd and welcome to Wonderland Fellow Griever. — “You’ve just stepped Down the Rabbit Hole — where mental health meets madness after loss. This is your daily dose of truth, grief, and yes, just the right bit of madness.” WEEK  3: Control & Surrender Day 23: Today’s truth is: "Try again: draw a long breath..." Idea: Starting over.  Some days, you start over fi...