It’s been over a decade since my oldest son Stefan, passed away, yet the pain at times still feels fresh, raw, and all-consuming. I’ve spent countless nights tossing and turning, trying to escape the suffocating grip of Grief. At times, it felt like I was pulled into a sea of emotions, unable to find solid ground.

Maybe you can relate.

Maybe you’ve experienced your own version of this heaviness, this sense of being lost in the shadows of loss.

My journey, like so many mothers is universal and yet unique.  In an AHA moment, a remarkable shift happened toward empowerment and freedom which altered my life in profound ways.  I realized that Grief wasn’t something I could outrun or wish away. It was a part of me, woven into the very fabric of my being. And instead of fighting against it, I made the radical decision to embrace it. It wasn’t easy, of course. But amidst it all, there was a sense of liberation—a freedom that comes from accepting life’s messy, unpredictable nature.

And so, I began to lean into Grief. I allowed myself to feel without reservation, to explore the depths of pain in my heart with an open mind and a courageous spirit. It was a journey of self-discovery, of unravelling the layers of my own humanity and acknowledging the brokenness, I felt. Learning to sit with the pain, to hold it gently, knowing that it was okay to feel it all.

As I leaned in, something shifted. I discovered a newfound sense of healing—a healing that didn’t erase the pain or diminish the loss but rather transformed it into something sacred.

It was a healing of the heart, a gentle balm for the soul that connected to the whispers of inner wisdom. And in that healing, I found freedom—a freedom to live fully, authentically, and unapologetically, in vulnerability.

In the unimaginable journey of Grief and loss know that you are not alone. You are loved, you are seen, and you are worthy of every ounce of inner peace and happiness that comes your way. Embrace your Grief, lean into it, and trust you will find your path to healing and freedom.