Saying “I’m Sorry for Our Loss” is so much better than saying “I am sorry for your loss.”Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever felt trapped by stress or grief, episode 388 of Grief and Happiness offers a science-backed way out. Stanford physician Dr. Greg Hammer shares the four-step practice that helped him find peace after losing his son—and that can rewire your brain for calm and gratitude. Blending neuroscience, mindfulness, and lived experience, he proves that happiness isn’t luck—it’s something you can train.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(01:01) Dr. Greg Hammer’s path from ICU medicine to mindfulness and wellness(03:37) Why A Mindful Teen was written for parents, not teens(04:32) The modern pressures today’s teens face—and how to help(07:21) The GAIN method: Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, Non-Judgment(10:40) How acceptance helped Dr. Hammer heal after losing his son(15:51) The science behind mindful breathing and calm(19:47) How listing “three good things” boosts happiness and sleep(22:50) Facing grief vs. suppressing it—how to tell the difference(27:40) Healing through writing letters to lost loved ones(29:44) Why parents must model gratitude and openness(37:51) Forgiving yourself and letting go of judgment(43:20) Why most of what we stress about doesn’t matterDr. Greg Hammer is a Stanford physician, wellness expert, and bestselling author devoted to helping people build happiness and resilience through mindfulness and science. After 35 years as a professor and pediatric intensive-care specialist at Stanford, he shifted his focus to stress reduction and well-being. His book Gain Without Pain introduced the GAIN method—Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Non-Judgment—as a practical path to balance and fulfillment, followed by A Mindful Teen, guiding parents and educators to better support today’s youth.In this episode, Dr. Hammer shares how his GAIN practice turns grief, stress, and self-criticism into calm and connection. Drawing on personal loss and decades of experience, he shows how gratitude and acceptance can rewire the brain toward positivity, and how mindful breathing resets the body by activating the vagus nerve. Addressing modern teen pressures—from social media to anxiety about the future—he urges adults to lead by example through compassion, presence, and forgiveness.Connect with Dr. Greg Hammer:WebsiteA Mindful Teen WebsiteLinkedInInstagramYouTubeLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are you holding on to? What can you let go?Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever been told to “stay strong” after loss, episode 386 will change how you see strength. Life coach Shruti Trivedi shares her journey through the loss of three babies and the 11 years she spent suppressing her pain. Through therapy and her “three A’s”—acknowledge, accept, and address—she discovered that true healing begins when you stop hiding your grief. Her story is a raw reminder that facing pain is often the first step toward peace.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(00:53) Shruti’s introduction and the losses that changed her life(02:04) The 11-year silence before seeking therapy—and how it transformed her healing(05:01) Why pregnancy loss is so misunderstood and often dismissed(08:35) Teaching children emotional honesty through shared grief(10:37) How Shruti helped her daughters honor their twin brothers each year(14:43) What to say—and what not to say—to someone grieving a loss(18:41) How fathers grieve differently and why their pain is often invisible(21:05) The danger of masking pain and the stigma around showing emotion(25:47) The “mental tumor” effect of unspoken grief and how to cleanse it(30:00) Finding peace through naming, remembering, and continuing bonds with lost babiesShruti Trivedi is a Certified Life Coach, PMP®, and founder of Tulsi Heals Life Coaching, where she helps women and parents navigate grief and emotional healing with empathy and structure. After spending over 13 years in IT consulting and leadership, her own experience of losing three babies—one early miscarriage and identical twin boys at 23 weeks—transformed her life’s direction. That profound loss inspired her to become an advocate for mental health awareness, emotional resilience, and self-compassion, using both her professional background and personal story to guide others through recovery.In this conversation, Shruti shares how she spent 11 years suppressing her grief before finally seeking therapy, a decision that became the foundation of her healing. She introduces her “three A’s” approach—acknowledge, accept, and address—as a framework for moving through pain rather than escaping it. With honesty and warmth, she discusses letting go of guilt, showing vulnerability to her children, and redefining strength as the ability to feel deeply. Her story reminds listeners that healing begins with allowing space for emotion—and that offering presence and compassion often means more than finding the perfect words.Connect with Shruti Trivedi:LinkedInSubstackInstagramYouTubeTikTokLet's Connect: WebsiteInstagramThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to turn your waiting time into something enjoyable and positive.Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in grief and longed for a way to truly move forward, episode 384 is for you. Grief guide and author Marie Crews shares how losing her 22-year-old son to suicide inspired The Nautilus Way—a four-step journaling process that transforms pain into empowerment. With raw honesty and compassion, she reveals how writing can quiet guilt, rewire your thoughts, and reconnect you to life. Her story proves that healing begins the moment you meet yourself on the page.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(01:01) Marie’s path from mindset coach to grief and empowerment guide(02:40) Losing her 22-year-old son and transforming unimaginable pain into purpose(04:15) Why choosing how to live with loss is an act of radical self-responsibility(06:27) The power of journaling—and how it became her lifeline through grief(07:45) The creation of The Nautilus Way: Reveal, Review, Rewrite, and Rewire(10:59) How journaling opens communication with lost loved ones(11:54) Turning journaling into meditation and “whispering yourself home”(14:20) Breaking perfectionism and resistance in writing for healing(16:18) Gratitude, self-love, and the small daily practices that rewire the mind(20:00) How journaling becomes a love letter to yourself—and a path to peace(23:55) Why the answers aren’t “out there,” but waiting inside you all along(24:45) How to access The Nautilus Way and begin your own healing journeyMarie Crews is an empowerment and grief guide, author, and creator of The Nautilus Way, a four-step journaling process that helps women heal by reconnecting with themselves and rewriting limiting beliefs. After losing her 22-year-old son to suicide in 2017, she transformed her grief into purpose, developing a compassionate method to help others move through loss, anxiety, and self-judgment. Through her retreats in Navarre, Florida, and online workshops, she guides women toward self-compassion, empowerment, and emotional freedom using journaling as a tool for deep healing.In this episode, Marie shares how journaling became her lifeline after her son’s death and how it evolved into The Nautilus Way—a process of “Reveal, Review, Rewrite, and Rewire.” She explains how meeting yourself on the page can quiet the inner critic, bring clarity, and reframe grief into growth. Marie and Emily discuss how consistent, conscious journaling can transform suffering into self-acceptance and joy, empowering women to take radical responsibility for their thoughts and emotions while finding peace within their ongoing grief.Connect with Marie Crews:WebsiteFacebookBook: Even When... She RoseLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness Alliance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You can heal your broken heart by practicing good self-care!Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same story of loss, episode 380 will move you. Author Michael Reed shares how, for nine years after losing his wife and daughters in the Gatlinburg wildfire, every morning felt like opening a newspaper with the same tragic headline. In this raw, hopeful conversation, he reveals how he finally rewrote that headline—turning pain into purpose through The Million Stages of Grief and showing that while we never move on, we can move forward.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (00:59) The wildfire that changed Michael Reed’s life forever(02:45) Why he rejected the “five stages of grief” and wrote The Million Stages of Grief(04:43) How shared pain can connect rather than divide us(06:07) Naming “the darkness” and learning to step out of it(07:30) The difference between moving on and moving forward(09:14) Living with the same headline of loss every day for nine years(10:40) Finding signs of love in butterflies, ladybugs, and owls(13:37) Turning grief into purpose and keeping loved ones’ memories alive(16:27) Facing anger, survivor’s guilt, and learning to take one baby step at a time(22:44) Grounding, creativity, and nature as pathways to healing(26:26) Why vulnerability is the key to helping others healMichael Reed is an author, speaker, and grief advocate from East Tennessee whose life was forever changed by the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfire that claimed his wife and two daughters. Transforming unimaginable loss into purpose, he now helps others navigate grief with honesty and compassion. Through his book The Million Stages of Grief and his platform, he challenges the idea of five linear stages of grief, showing instead that healing is a complex, deeply personal journey. Currently pursuing a degree in Behavioral Science, Reed uses his story to remind others that while we never move on from grief, we can always move forward with love.In this episode, Reed brings raw authenticity and hope to the conversation, sharing how he learned to live beyond the darkness of his loss. He describes grief as both chaotic and connective—a shared human experience that, when voiced, helps others heal too. From naming his sadness to finding comfort in small signs from his late family, he illustrates that our loved ones never truly leave us. Through grounding, creativity, and compassion, Reed shows listeners how to transform pain into purpose, connection, and even gratitude.Connect with Michael Reed:WebsiteInstagramTikTokBook: Michael Reed - The Million Stages of GriefLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInInstagramThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Now it the time to say whatever your need to say to your loved ones. Don’t wait!Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you think end-of-life planning is dark or depressing, episode 380 will change your mind. Author and celebration coach Sherry Richert Belul shows how preparing for death can actually bring peace, clarity, and deeper joy to life. Through her book The Love List of a Lifetime, she turns planning into an act of gratitude—capturing memories and meaning before it’s too late. Her message: facing death is one of the most life-affirming things you can do.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:03) Grief and celebration as two sides of one coin(02:45) Turning end-of-life planning into a love story(04:32) Why facing death is a gift to yourself(08:05) The real reason it’s never too soon to plan(11:06) Preserving family stories before they vanish(14:12) Finding joy in letting go of “stuff”(16:35) The clarity that comes from writing it down(22:06) Sorting memories with the people you love(26:27) Keeping spirits alive through storytelling(28:01) How planning for death makes life richerIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Sherry Richert Belul — author, creative coach, and founder of Simply Celebrate, a movement that helps people bring gratitude and joy into everyday life, even amid grief and loss. Through her Love List practice and her new book, The Love List of a Lifetime, Sherry invites others to turn life’s hardest moments into opportunities for love and reflection. Known for her warmth, humor, and honesty, she shows that celebration and sorrow are intertwined—and that choosing joy is a daily act of courage.In this conversation, Sherry shares her compassionate, life-affirming approach to end-of-life planning. She reframes preparation for death as an expression of love—both for ourselves and those we leave behind. Drawing on her own experiences with depression and loss, she reminds listeners that planning ahead reduces chaos and allows more space for genuine grieving. Beyond the legal details, Sherry encourages people to record stories, memories, and “love lists” so that what remains is meaning, not confusion. Her talk with Emily transforms a topic often avoided into a heartfelt reminder that reflecting on death can deepen how we live.Connect with Sherry Richert Belul:WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTikTokYouTubeGet Sherry’s books!Let's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What are some miracles you experience every day?Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide here See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever been told to “get over it,” episode 378 will change how you see healing. Author and former lawyer Michelle Lerner shares how grief doesn’t end—it transforms—and how the body carries what words can’t. After a life-altering illness led her to write Ring, she explores complicated grief, isolation, and how true recovery begins not by moving on, but by learning to live with what remains.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (00:59) From courtroom to creative healing(02:07) How Ring turned pain into purpose(02:37) A parent’s journey through complicated grief(04:50) When illness and isolation reshape grief(08:13) The cold landscape of loss(10:17) The silence no one talks about(11:30) How grief lives inside the body(14:31) Why “getting over it” is a myth(16:06) Rebuilding life with purpose(18:02) What Jewish mourning gets right(22:57) Could “grief doulas” change how we heal?In today’s episode, I’m joined by Michelle Lerner, a writer and former public interest lawyer from New Jersey. After developing a severe case of neurological Lyme disease that ended her legal career, Michelle turned to writing as a way to navigate illness and loss. Her debut novel, Ring, explores complicated grief, isolation, and the power of human connection. She’s also the author of a poetry chapbook and has a memoir forthcoming—each reflecting her deep interest in how the body, mind, and compassion intertwine in healing.Drawing from her own experiences with illness and profound grief, Michelle shares how writing became both her refuge and mirror. Through the story of a parent mourning their adult child, she examines the loneliness and meaning-seeking that accompany loss. She challenges the cultural expectation to “move on,” instead framing grief as something to live with, not overcome. Michelle also explores how grief lodges in the body and how somatic awareness and community can aid recovery. Inspired by her Jewish mourning traditions and modern therapeutic ideas, she even imagines “grief doulas” to guide others through sorrow—a concept as empathetic as it is transformative.Connect with Michelle Lerner:WebsiteFacebookInstagramBook: Ring: A NovelLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterPinterestThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What memories can you focus on to bring you the inspiration and comfort you are seeking?Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever wondered how grief could become a force for healing, episode 376 is for you. Author Jonathan Foster shares how the devastating loss of his daughter led him to co-found a nonprofit in Haiti and to write his powerful book Indigo: The Color of Grief. From building schools in remote villages to using writing to “tame the wildness” of loss, Jonathan shows how sorrow can transform into service, meaning, and even hope.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:02) Jonathan’s background as a pastor, writer, and nonprofit leader(01:52) How the loss of his daughter inspired a nonprofit in Haiti(03:55) Why helping others makes you a “wounded healer”(05:47) Writing as a way to “tame the wildness” of grief(07:57) Creating white space for readers to process their own loss(09:40) The power of limits in art and writing—like haiku(11:45) Jonathan’s advice on writing as a tool for grieving(13:23) Rebuilding the language of love after loss(15:20) Why grief fuels creativity and eliminates writer’s block(17:02) Jonathan’s encouragement: rest, keep going, and don’t give up todayIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Jonathan J. Foster, an author, speaker, and former pastor whose work explores the intersections of grief, love, and theology. After the loss of his daughter in 2015, Jonathan co-founded a nonprofit in Haiti that provides education and healthcare to underserved communities. His latest book, Indigo: The Color of Grief, distills nearly a decade of reflection into a poignant meditation on loss and resilience. Through his writing, speaking, and nonprofit leadership, Jonathan helps others find language and meaning in the midst of sorrow.Throughout this episode, Jonathan shows how his personal grief reshapes his life’s direction. What begins as his daughter’s plan to work in Haiti grows into a nonprofit that now offers schools and healthcare in some of the most remote parts of the country, transforming tragedy into tangible hope for others. He reflects on the role of writing in metabolizing grief, describing it as a way to “tame the wildness” of loss and create white space for meaning-making. He emphasizes how language itself must sometimes be rebuilt after loss—rehabilitating old words and inventing new ones to hold the weight of sorrow and love. Jonathan’s perspective as a “wounded healer” highlights the paradox of grief: even in brokenness, there is profound potential to serve, connect, and help others heal.Connect with Jonathan J. Foster:WebsitePodcastInstagramSubstackMediumGet Jonathan’s booksLet's Connect: WebsiteInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness Alliance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Here is the key to activating your feel good hormones!Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever wondered how facing fear head-on could change your life, episode 374 is for you. Author Diane Hartman shares how solo trips through Ireland’s backroads—complete with wrong turns, roundabouts gone wrong, and deep solitude—help her confront decades of buried grief. Through journaling and courage, she turns loss into resilience and shows how getting lost can sometimes be the exact path to finding yourself.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:00) Diane’s path from librarian to writer and her call to Ireland(03:46) How her first solo trip tested her courage behind the wheel(07:59) The lifelong impact of losing her father to suicide at age ten(12:56) Supporting grieving children as a school librarian(14:15) Choosing to transform trauma into empathy and purpose(16:23) The role of self-talk, compassion, and counseling in her healing(21:14) How daily journaling shaped her memoir(22:46) A teacher grant, writer’s retreat, and the push to publish(25:24) Writing for travelers, grievers, and anyone seeking resilience(26:53) Where to find Getting Lost on My Way and follow Diane’s journeyIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Diane Hartman, an author and retired school librarian from Indiana. Her memoir, Getting Lost on My Way: Self-Discovery on Ireland’s Backroads, draws from her solo journeys through Ireland after the early loss of her father to suicide and the end of a long marriage. Through travel and journaling, she discovers resilience, courage, and healing, transforming her grief into a story of self-discovery and gratitude. Passionate about inspiring others to face fear with courage, Diane shows how even life’s deepest losses can become gateways to growth and renewal.Throughout this episode, she shares how traveling alone through Ireland’s winding backroads—often lost and confronting challenges like driving on the opposite side of the road—forces her to confront fear, grief, and self-doubt. By embracing the discomfort of solitude, she learns the power of self-talk, compassion, and courage, uncovering lessons that shape both her memoir and her life. Her story is a reminder that solo journeys can spark profound healing, self-trust, and empathy, offering hope to anyone navigating grief or searching for a deeper sense of self.Connect with Diane Hartman:WebsiteSubstackInstagramFacebookBook: Getting Lost on My WayLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness Alliance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every single moment is valuable. Experiencing each of those moments with love and joy rather that stress and anguish is a gift that you can give yourself every day, every moment.Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever felt trapped in a relationship that was breaking you, episode 372 is for you. Author and healing guide Sarah May shares how she left an abusive marriage that nearly cost her life—and how yoga, therapy, plant medicine, and writing helped her rebuild. With raw honesty, she shows how choosing yourself can open the door to freedom, resilience, and lasting love.In This Episode, You Will Learn: (01:05) From heartbreak to homecoming: Sarah’s story and memoir(03:32) Marrying young, betrayal, and the devastating impact of divorce(06:50) Coping with infidelity, trauma, and a near-fatal helicopter crash(10:45) Leaving everything behind and starting a cross-country road trip(13:13) Why shifting from victimhood to responsibility changed everything(17:00) How love and fear kept her stuck—and the courage to walk away(19:13) The family patterns that shaped her relationships (and how she broke them)(23:20) The healing power of yoga, therapy, journaling, and plant medicine(30:27) Why self-love is the foundation of safe, lasting relationshipsIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Sarah May, an author, healing guide, and founder of She Journeys. Her memoir, She Journeys: A Memoir of Heartbreak and Homecoming, traces her experience of an abusive marriage, divorce, and the long process of reclaiming her voice. Drawing on this journey and years of spiritual and therapeutic work, she now supports women one-on-one through intuitive guidance, Reiki, meditation, and somatic practices. Passionate about turning grief into growth, Sarah lives in a camper van with her husband, embracing a life of freedom, healing, and love.Throughout this episode, Sarah shares how leaving her marriage felt like a death, plunging her into depression before she slowly rebuilt her life on a cross-country road trip. Practices like yoga, meditation, therapy, breathwork, plant medicine, and journaling became vital in her healing and later shaped her work as a guide. She emphasizes the power of self-love, responsibility, and moving beyond victimhood, showing how profound loss can ultimately lead to resilience, gratitude, and a deeply fulfilling new chapter.Connect with Sarah May:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeBook: Sarah May - She JourneysLet's Connect: WebsiteLinkedInFacebookInstagramTwitterThe Grief and Happiness AllianceBook: Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Great self-care includes knowing when and how to take a break. Here are the directions!Writing a list of happy experiences you have had can bring you joy and give you lots of things to write about in your journal!Let's Connect:You can join the Grief and Happiness Alliance which meets weekly on Sundays by clicking hereYou can order the International Best Selling The Grief and Happiness Guide by clicking here.You can order Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief by clicking here at Amazon:You can listen to my podcast, Grief and Happiness, by clicking hereRequest your Awaken Your Happiness Journaling Guide hereSee acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you’ve ever wondered how children can learn to face grief with courage and creativity, episode 370 is for you. Author and educator Jerry Woodbridge joins Emily to share how her experiences of loss and widowhood inspired her to write Joy Overcame Sorry, a middle-grade novel that helps kids process the death of a parent through story and journaling. With wisdom drawn from her own grief journey, Jerry shows how writing, empathy, and faith can guide children—and their families—toward resilience, healing, and hope.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(01:01) Jerry’s lifelong calling as a teacher and writer(02:30) The devastating losses that shaped her perspective on grief(06:45) How journaling provided clarity and emotional release(10:40) From grief to creativity: writing her first book Trading My Sorries for the Joy of the Lord(13:40) Why empathy—not casseroles—helps grievers feel seen(16:30) Turning pain into purpose and helping others heal(20:36) The differences between sudden and anticipatory grief(23:06) How children process grief—and why resources like camps and books matter(25:21) Choosing joy while holding sorrow at the same timeIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Jerry Woodbridge, an educator, author, and grief advocate who helps children and families process loss through storytelling and journaling. After the deaths of her husband and four babies, Jerry turned to writing as a way to find clarity and healing. Author of Joy Overcame Sorry and its companion Joy’s Journal, she draws on her decades of teaching experience and personal journey to guide middle-grade children in expressing emotions. Through her books and commitment to grief literacy, Jerry shows how writing and empathy can transform sorrow into resilience and hope.Throughout this episode, Jerry shares how journaling became her lifeline after losing her husband and four babies. What began as private writing grew into books that help children put words to their grief. She introduces Joy Overcame Sorry, a story of a ten-year-old coping with her father’s death, and Joy’s Journal, a companion that guides kids through their own emotions. Jerry highlights the value of early grief literacy, the difference between sympathy and empathy, and the healing power of presence. Her message shows how sorrow and joy can coexist, with love as the bridge between them.Connect with Dr. Jerry Woodbridge:WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeLinkedInXGet Jerry’s books!Let's Connect: WebsiteThe Grief and Happiness Alliance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.