Susan, your host, welcomes you to another episode of The Tendrils of Grief Podcast, this time she is accompanied by Yolanda Copes-Stepney who is a founder, development producer, anti-racism and EDI educator, and podcaster. After gaining her degree in journalism, she went on to become a PR, events, and digital content specialist working for national and global brands.

In 2016 she founded Speak&Do, representing influencers, talent, and speakers. Yolanda considers herself an anti-racism activist and mental health advocate who strives to break down barriers and passionately challenges the status quo in the quest for equality and equity.

Today, Yolanda shares her grief story that started after she lost her grandmother and best friend, someone she "could not possibly love any more." Yolanda openly talks about a series of losses that changed her life completely and how she managed to allow herself to grieve and heal.

Key Takeaways:

• Yolanda shares her grief story that started in 2016 when her grandmother passed away.
• Yolanda shares the devastation she felt when she was gone.
• Nine people in Yolanda's family died within 20 months; every time she was processing a loss, another one happened.
• Yolanda and Susan talk about the several losses resulting from someone you love passing away.
• Susan shares about her prayer journal and how she had to teach herself to be more specific with her requests since they tend to manifest exactly how she framed them.
• Everything happens and it's up to us to find the meaning of it.
• Yolanda gained resilience as a consequence of all the work she did to heal and process all the losses in her family.
• Be aware of what you think and say, intentions are powerful.
• Life is going to keep moving whether you like it or not!
• Grief is like a scribble, messy and ugly, Yolanda shares an explanation of grief she once heard from a psychologist that exemplifies how grief is experienced.
• Many people think they are grieving incorrectly, but whatever you are doing is OK, don't force yourself to grieve in a specific way.
• When you are grieving, you lose friends but also gain others.

• There will be a day when it is going to hurt a little bit less, and that will be a great day! Keep this in mind: You will feel better.

Resources

Tendrilsofgrief.com

Email Susan: [email protected]

Meet Yolanda Copes-Stepney

Follow Yolanda on Instagram and LinkedIn