Susan, your host, is accompanied by Sherrie Dunlevy to today's episode. Former NBC News Anchor Sherrie Dunlevy served the Wheeling, WV area for nearly 30 years, both on television and radio. Today, she is a best-selling author, inspirational speaker, and the Founder of the Graduating Grief Academy and online support community, host of the Graduating Grief podcast and is also an Aging Awesomely Coach.

Her Number one best-selling book How Can I Help?: Your Go-to Guide For Helping Loved Ones Through Life's Difficulties was written to help people know exactly what to say and do when the people they love and care about are hurting. As a self-proclaimed #Inspirationista, Sherrie's passion lies in inspiring and encouraging women to step beyond the pain of their past, so they can step fully into living with purpose, passion, and JOY.

Key Takeaways:

• Sherrie shares her grief story.
• Sherrie shares how she dealt with the grief of her younger son while also struggling to still be present for her older son.
• Sherrie went from living her life in black and white to living in color again, not just surviving but thriving.
• Sherrie and Susan talk about the myths around grieving.
• Grief is a sneaky monster but is one that won't kill you.
• You can let your story define you, or you can let it refine you.
• You have to take action; your grief can't be fixed and you can't be rescued from it.
• Susan shares her experience starting a Gratitude Journal.
• Focus on the years of joy you had with your lost one and really reach gratitude for those wonderful moments you got the chance to live.
• Don't take what you have for granted, there are other people wanting what you have and what you are dismissing.
• Sherrie talks about her book How Can I Help?: Your Go-to Guide For Helping Loved Ones Through Life's Difficulties
• People often don't know what to do with others' pain and suffering.
• Sherrie talks about how she started interviewing people who have gone through the worst things in life and asked about what their friends and families did that was most helpful and not so helpful.
• Just be there for someone who is grieving.
• Sherrie advises grieving people to connect with the intention behind the words coming from the people trying to help you; if the intention comes with love, just stay with that intention and not necessarily with the content of their message.
• Sherrie shares her message to grieving people: You will be OK if you choose it, so choose it!

Resources

Tendrilsofgrief.com

Email Susan: [email protected]

Meet Sherrie Dunlevy

Reach out to Sherrie on LinktreeReach out to Sherrie on LinkedIn

Visit Sherrie Dunlevy's website

Graduating Grief Academy

Take the Quiz to find at which point of your grieving journey you are.