EP185: Sarah Nannen on Grief Unveiled

Today's guest recently published her first book, Grief Unveiled, and I've been looking forward to having her on the show since the idea for this book was just a seedling. I remember being on the phone with her and saying she must message me as soon as it was ready to be alive in the world so we could talk about it on the show. Grief is a deeply personal, intimate, and tender topic, and Sarah comes from a place of wanting to rebel against grief "as we know it." Sarah is a veteran and military widow with four children, who found herself seeking a solution that didn't exist. Her perspective on grief is that it doesn't have to only be about survival or stress management, and that it's entirely possible to create a thriving life (and not dishonoring or disrespectful to anyone's memory). This is what she's done, and in today's episode she's sharing her story, her experience, and how she now helps other widows through the experience as well. It's a fascinating and delicate conversation - if you're currently grieving anything or anyone in your life right now, please be extra gentle with yourself as you listen and stay close to your own heart. About Sarah Nannen: Sarah Nannen is a grief coach and the author of Grief Unveiled. Based on her own experiences and those of her clients, she writes candidly about the intense shadowland of widowhood and grief’s many layers. She is the founder of an online grief coaching program dedicated to shifting the negative paradigm surrounding grief toward one of hope and possibility. While honoring the painful terrain that must be navigated in grief with intention, Sarah boldly challenges the limiting cultural mythology of widowhood in her work. Sarah’s up and coming podcast Grief Unveiled: An Inside Look at Widowhood continues the exploration far beyond the scope of this book. In addition to life coaching, Sarah is a yoga teacher and reiki practitioner who is fascinated by the human capacity for healing and wholeness. Sarah is a veteran and military widow who lives in central Illinois with her four children. In her “spare time” you’ll find her teaching yoga, traveling, or playing hard with her family. In this episode, Sarah shares: 1. Making and claiming space for yourself as you grieve 2. Helpful and non-helpful things you can say and do for someone who is grieving 3. The importance of friendship, [sisterhood] and connection during hard times