One of the greatest gifts our loved ones leave behind is their legacy. Not the kind measured by accomplishments, titles, or possessions. But the kind measured by love. Long after someone is gone, their influence remains. It lives in the lessons they taught us. The values they instilled in us. The traditions they created. The kindness they showed. The ways they loved and cared for others. We often think of legacy as something large and extraordinary. Yet many of the most meani

When we experience a deep loss, we often wish we could avoid the pain altogether. We long for a way around the heartbreak. A way to return to who we were before grief entered our lives. But grief changes us. The loss of someone we love leaves a wound on our heart. In the beginning, that wound feels raw and overwhelming. Even the smallest touch can bring tears. The pain seems ever-present, reminding us of all that has been lost. Yet over time, something begins to happen. The w

One of the hardest parts of grief is realizing that life keeps moving forward. The seasons change. Children grow up. Milestones arrive. New memories are made. And somehow, we are expected to keep walking into those new seasons without the person we love beside us. There are moments when their absence feels especially heavy. A graduation they should have attended. A wedding where their seat sits empty. The birth of a grandchild they never got to hold. A family vacation that fe

In the early days of grief, it feels impossible to imagine a life that holds anything other than the loss. The sorrow is so heavy, so all-consuming, that it fills every space of your life and learning to live around grief seems impossible. Every thought. Every memory. Every moment of the day seems to circle back to the one you love and miss. In those early days, it can feel as though grief has taken over everything. Breathing feels harder. Sleeping feels impossible. Even the

To the one who thought you’d be stronger by now — this is for you. This past week held both tender tears and quiet celebration. The tender tears came as I walked through another anniversary of the day my sweet Melanie ran ahead to Heaven. And while time has moved forward, love has not diminished. Grief still whispers her name in the ordinary moments. And scars still speak. But the week was also marked in quiet celebration of the release of my new book, When Scars Become Sto

Feeling left behind after loss is one of the quiet pains many grievers don’t expect. In the early days, support often surrounds us—texts arrive, meals are delivered, and our sorrow is acknowledged. But as time passes, life resumes for others. Conversations shift. Invitations slow. And while the world seems to move forward, we may find ourselves standing still, wondering why our hearts haven’t caught up. You may notice fewer check-ins or sense that people assume you're “doing

Even though this journey has been the hardest thing I’ve ever walked through, there comes a time when we can choose joy and remember the love more than the loss. Choosing joy means finding moments of happiness in the midst of sorrow, whether it’s a shared memory, or a comforting word. Remembering the love more than the loss involves focusing on the positive impact Melanie had on my life and the lives of others, rather than the pain of her absence.

It’s been a few years since I’ve written about self-care (Self Care or Selfish), but it remains an integral part in helping walk through the grief journey. Recently, I’ve been thinking that no matter how much time goes by, it’s still so important to protect your heart while you grieve. As the season changes fromContinue reading “Protect Your Heart While You Grieve”