A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 28 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

Sunday Softening — A Daily Journal Prompt:
“What would it feel like to soften my expectations of myself today?”

Today’s Reflection

As the holidays fade and the year nears its end, today’s episode offers permission to slow down and let the season settle gently.

Quoted or Referenced in This Episode

– “You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.” — Mary Oliver

A Gentle Closing Reminder

Softening is not weakness — it’s wisdom.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 27 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

Letting Stillness Be Enough — A Daily Journal Prompt:
“What might become possible if I allow this weekend to be slower than usual?”

Today’s Reflection

The space between Christmas and the new year can feel disorienting for grievers. Today’s episode invites stillness and reminds us that slowing down is part of healing.

Quoted or Referenced in This Episode

– “In an age of speed, I began to think, nothing could be more invigorating than going slow.” — Pico Iyer

A Gentle Closing Reminder

You don’t have to fill the quiet — you can rest inside it.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 26 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

After the Exhale — A Daily Journal Prompt:
“What does my body need today as the intensity of the season begins to ease?”

Today’s Reflection

After the holidays, many grievers experience an emotional and physical drop. Today’s episode offers compassion for that release and permission to rest without judgment.

Quoted or Referenced in This Episode

– “Sometimes everything has to be let go, to make room for what is real.” — David Whyte

A Gentle Closing Reminder

Rest is not retreat — it’s recovery.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 25 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

Letting the Day Be — A Daily Journal Prompt:
“What is today actually like for me — not what it’s supposed to be?”

Today’s Reflection

Christmas Day can hold love, grief, memory, and exhaustion all at once. Today’s reflection offers permission to let the day be what it is, without pressure to perform, reflect, or feel a certain way.

Quoted or Referenced in This Episode

– “We are imperfect mortal beings, aware of that mortality even as we push it away.” — Joan Didion

A Gentle Closing Reminder

You don’t need to make today meaningful — your presence is enough.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 24 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

For Christmas Eve, today’s Daily Nugget is a little different.
Instead of a longer reflection, Melissa shares a grief-tender reimagining of a familiar holiday reading — written to hold memory, absence, love, and quiet endurance.

And the House Held Its Breath- ’Twas a Christmas Eve Rebuilding

by Melissa Bottorff-Arey

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through our spaces,
 Our houses hold breath with slower, softer paces.
 Not everything sparkles, not everything shines.
 Some traditions rest, some moments keep time.

The stockings weren’t placed the way they once were.
 Some memories still tender, some feelings astir.
 We didn’t fix everything, and we didn’t pretend.
 We noticed what’s missing — what there’s no way to mend.

The lights felt too bright, or perhaps not enough.
 The songs hit a nerve, where the love meets the loss.
 We whisper their names in quiet in-betweens,
 What once was our normal, and what now isn’t seen.

Somewhere a laugh lingers, familiar, alive,
 In the warmth of the kitchen, the joy that survived.
 Not the joy we went looking for, not something we planned,
 But a moment that found us, and then held our hand.

There’s no magic tonight that makes sorrow depart,
 No sleigh that can mend a broke-open heart.
 And yet in the stillness, something remains:
 The love we keep carrying through the truth and the pain.

So here on this evening, I offer no false cheer —
 Just a place for longing, the memories, the tears.
 And maybe a breath. And maybe a pause.
 And permission to hold it — with or without a 'Claus(e)'

Christmas Eve — A Daily Journal Prompt:

“What feels most present for me tonight — and what would it mean to let that be enough?”

Stay Connected

If you’re a mom navigating grief and longing for steady, compassionate support, the Lighthouse Community is a gentle place to land.
The first month is always free — no pressure, no obligation.
You’re welcome exactly as you are.

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 23 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

The days leading up to the holidays can feel heavier than the days themselves. Anticipation, memory, and nervous-system overload often show up before anything actually happens.

Today’s Daily Nugget offers gentle permission to pause — to stop pre-handling what’s coming, and to let this moment be enough. You don’t need a plan. You don’t need a script. You don’t need to decide how you’ll feel tomorrow.

Tonight is about staying close to yourself, exactly where you are.

The Night Before the Big Days — A Daily Journal Prompt:

“What am I carrying into the next few days — and what can I remind myself I don’t have to decide yet?”

Stay Connected

If you’re a mom navigating life after suicide loss and craving steady, compassionate support, the Lighthouse Community is a gentle place to land.
The first month is always free — no pressure, no obligation.
You’re welcome exactly as you are.

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 22 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

ALSO....IF YOU ARE A MOM --Please know I have added an "extra" support group meeting tonight at 8PM eastern (see the Lighthouse Community)-- because this time of year, more than ever, we need extra support!

Letting Meaning Find You — A Daily Journal Prompt:

“What small moment of meaning — however quiet — has touched me recently, and what did it reveal about my love or my grief?”

Today’s Reflection

Today begins Week Four with an exploration of meaning — not as a solution, but as the softer, quieter ways love continues to shape your life after loss.

Quoted or Referenced In This Episode

– “What is to give light must endure burning.” — Viktor Frankl

A Gentle Closing Reminder

You don’t have to look for meaning — just stay open to it.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 21 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

Holding Space for What’s Coming — A Daily Journal Prompt:

“What is one gentle thing I can offer myself today as I move toward the week ahead?”

Today’s Reflection

Today’s episode honors the emotional complexity of approaching a holiday week. You're invited to release urgency, breathe into the present moment, and allow yourself to feel whatever arises without judgment.

Quoted or Referenced In This Episode

– “Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

A Gentle Closing Reminder

You don’t have to meet the week ahead before it arrives.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

A daily December series offering tender, truthful support for surviving the holidays after suicide loss — with grief, grace, and gentle company.

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything!
👉 The Leftover Pieces App

This is December 20 — Welcome, Fellow Griever

A Saturday to Breathe — A Daily Journal Prompt:

“What space — emotional or physical — can I offer myself today, and why does it matter?”

Today’s Reflection

Today’s episode acknowledges the unique emotional landscape of a December Saturday. You're invited to find small pockets of space, breath, and gentleness, whether the weekend feels soft, heavy, or anything in between.

Quoted or Referenced In This Episode

– “What if we joined our sorrows? What if that is joy?” — Ross Gay

A Gentle Closing Reminder

Let today give you room to breathe.

Stay Connected

💜 TheLeftoverPieces.com
💜 Instagram @theleftoverpieces
💜 Download the Leftover Pieces App

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.

In this episode of The Leftover Pieces; Suicide Loss Conversations, I’m joined by Jacquelyn Dickey, a mother navigating early suicide loss after the death of her son, Austin, who died on April 4, 2025, at the age of 30. Austin left behind a loving family — his mom, dad, younger sister Victoria, girlfriend Rachel, and his beloved dog Luna — as well as an extraordinary body of photographic work that continues to speak to his creativity and spirit.

Follow The Empty Chair Movement HERE

Jacquelyn’s journey through grief has been uniquely courageous. Within weeks of Austin’s death, she leaned into movement, connection, and purpose — returning to horse training and immersion in things that grounded her — not to bypass her grief, but to survive alongside it. In the process, she brought Austin’s work into the world through a beautiful and powerful book, The Dash, honoring his legacy while also inviting others into honest conversation around suicide loss.

You will want to add this book to your Amazon Cart -- It is incredible! 

We explore early grief and survival, creativity as connection, the varied ways people find a way forward, and how advocacy — through art, horses, and community — can be both deeply personal and broadly meaningful.

This episode also highlights Jacqueline’s advocacy work, including the Austin Dickey Creativity in Advocacy Fund, which supports young creatives advancing mental-health awareness, and her moving freestyle performance at the 2025 Thoroughbred Makeover with her horse Donner — a moment that was widely shared for its message of resilience and hope.

Episode Links & Resources

 📖  The Dash — Book & Austin’s Photography
 

 📷  Austin Dickey Creativity in Advocacy Fund
 

🌐 Austin’s Legacy Website
 

🐎 Thoroughbred Makeover 2025 — Donner & Jacqueline (YouTube)
 

To learn more about Austin’s life, Jacqueline’s advocacy, and the legacy being built in his name, check out the links above and take time to witness the creativity, love, and meaning that continue to move forward.

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________

Get THE Leftover Pieces APP & don't miss anything! CLICK HERE

💜 The Leftover Pieces is support central for grieving hearts.
🔗 Stay connected: Join my free email community for weekly check-ins, resources, and encouragement.
🌟 For moms: Explore the $9 Lighthouse Community — safe connection, tools, and hope.
🛠 Resources for all grievers: Start here.
🤝 One-on-one grief coaching for moms after child loss to suicide: Learn more here.
📞 Need help now? If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 in the U.S. & Canada, or text HOME to 741741.