"It's not a tick box exercise. It's a genuine need to care for people and other human beings. Ultimately they'll thrive again given the right support…and bring a whole new level of compassion and empathy if they're nurtured the right way."

What happens when your life changes in an instant, not by choice but by tragedy? In this episode I'm with Caroline Roodhouse, who shares her incredibly moving story of losing her husband to suicide, the surreal aftermath, and the slow journey of rebuilding identity, family, and hope.

Caroline opens the door on grief: the shock, the vividness and then the blur, learning to parent alone, redefining family from a 'square' to a 'triangle', and the tools and thinking that helped her through the darkest chapters.

We talk about being a 'hope carrier,' the lifelong waves of loss, and the vital work of supporting others at home, in the workplace, and in community. Caroline is an incredible people, impressive with her ability to share how she navigating the hardest moment of her life, and now support others in that moment.

The Highlights:

00:14 The moment everything changed

06:14 How it feels when the ordinary is shattered

08:47 Parenting through grief and finding yourself at rock bottom

11:03 Finding strength in new shapes: from a fragile triangle to resilience

13:14 Building a triangle of recovery: self, children, community

16:24 The "hope carrier", what it means and why it matters

21:19 Navigating the unpredictable waves of loss, identity, and reminders

26:01 Turning lived experience into advocacy and helping others

29:38 The reality of workplace support

33:17 Practical advice: checking in, communication, and true humanity

35:14 Supporting someone through trauma: what actually helps

What Helped Caroline Navigate Change: Soundtrack: Anything by Taylor Swift (thanks to the kids!) Book: Emotional Agility by Susan David

One piece of advice: "Try not dwelling on the past and not worrying about the future, just focusing on what's in front of you right now. Sometimes that means one minute at a time, and that's okay."

More about Caroline:

Caroline Roodhouse is a mother, writer, lifelong learner, internal communicator and speaker on the subjects of mental health and bereavement through suicide.

In 2018, Caroline's husband, Steve, took his own life without warning or explanation. Caroline writes and talks about her lived experience of grief and loss to give a voice to others who have been impacted and to continue her own healing journey.

As a 'double parent' with a busy work life, spare time is limited, but when she is able, Caroline builds on her skills both personally and professionally by listening to and appearing on podcasts, attending conferences, workshops and learning sessions, contributing to the public conversation and reading plenty of books!

Find out more: https://daddyblackbird.com/

Work with Eleanor

Buy the Book - Another Door Opens; 5 steps for navigating change. Described as 'Game changing' 'Brilliant' 'A must read' 'The best book on change'.

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it's coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.

Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.

Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.

Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.

Join the Another Door Opens 5 Step Programme - a course and community to guide you through the mess of change to find calm, joy and opportunity.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: www.another-door-opens.com

Produced by winteraudio.co.uk