Wow, this sounds like a fun title, right? 

I have a lot of thoughts about this. Alcohol is sold as the answer to pretty much everything: the way to have fun, be cool, connect with others, and conversely, also how to deal with sadness, disappointment etc. So, what does this look like when serious grief shows up? I'm sharing my experiences with this, and also highly aware that I do not want to be preachy on this subject. We all have to get through and manage in the best way we can. 

I sincerely dislike 'Top 5' style episodes, but here we are. These are my best ideas for grievers and their supporters. I hope it is helpful, and please feel free to share further thoughts and ideas.

Thank you for listening.

Jen

If you are looking for grief support, a group of people who have gone through similar loss can be incredibly helpful. There is no shortage of groups you can find online- and some offer in person components too. My only suggestion is to keep trying to find your people-  once you find them, it is worth it. Here are the ones that worked best for me.

Experience Camp for grieving kids through 12th grade. Cannot recommend this camp enough. (They also offer an adult program and family program.)

Heather Quisel- widow support

Andrea Gibson: Love Letter From the Afterlife

A milestone birthday and my thoughts and experiences on receiving signs from Alex. I'm a total believer by the way.

If you are curious about what signs look like and hearing more about them- please read this wonderful book: Signs by Laura Lynne Jackson  It is a beautiful read, and I found it comforting and hopeful. 

Thank you for listening.

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one hears it- does it make a sound? I like existential questions of philosophy, and this one resonates on a couple levels for me. 

Also, there is a LOT of emphasis on the first year after losing someone, but what happens on day 366? 

I’m sharing a few thoughts about why this question is so difficult when in the midst of grief, or really any challenging life stage. Also, I am a chronic over-thinker, so that doesn’t help in this scenario. 

I also share the Buddhist parable , 'The story of the second arrow'. The message of this story is one that I revisit very frequently. It illustrates the difference between pain and suffering, which for me has been a helpful distinction in many moments. 

Thank you for listening. 

Flashback to…… International Women’s Day, March 8,  2020. 

My friend and co-conspirator Judy @garagefitness and I dreamt of sharing The Class by Taryn Toomey live in Buffalo to honor and celebrate women. Thanks to generous support from @lululemon, it actually happened! We were blessed to have the inspiring and powerful @emilychristinemara travel to Buffalo from NYC and lead hundreds of women in an amazing group experience……..one week before the world shut down. 

It was a pleasure to reconnect with Emily 5 years later to catch up on how she is continuing to inspire and support women now, and much more. 

Connect with Emily on Instagram and through her website and online offerings:

@emilychristinemara

https://www.empowerbyem.com/

It’s now been 2 years since I took what I thought was a break for a few weeks. I considered starting again so many times, but it felt too overwhelming. I wasn’t sure how to begin and what to say. 

Somehow, a few weeks ago I felt like starting, and so I recorded a 15 min. ‘ice breaker’. Trust me, it’s messy. But, guess what- that’s exactly where I’m at. I usually obsess over details and trying to make everything perfect, but I’m experimenting with going the other way here. I ramble, probably don’t make sense and likely contradict myself, but I think that is more real than any kind of perfectly scripted talk. Ultimately, I think there is some value in sharing messiness. It’s always connected with me when others shared their real story. And, I can’t just begin again here without acknowledging the loss and grief I’ve been going through in the past 20 months. 

So, if you are interested in listening, here it is. 

Hi Friends,  today is my first solo episode. I share an experience that happened when I was growing up that was difficult for me to process. Now from my adult perspective, it illustrates how mindfulness helps me navigate big and small situations as well as why I'm so passionate about sharing it. 

Thank you for listening and please connect with your thoughts or feedback:
[email protected]

 I'm taking a break from the podcast for a couple of weeks and will  be back with more great guests, mindfulness and......better questions!