Bereaved Mom Tip of the Week: Finding Your Way Back to Joy

Welcome back to the Bereaved Mom Tip of the Week! 🤍

If you’ve been following along for a while, you might notice it’s been a minute—specifically, a two-year hiatus following the loss of my mom. Grief changes the landscape of everything. It reshapes how you see the world, how you spend your days, and how you show up. Finding your footing again after a profound loss is not something you rush; it takes all the time it takes.

Stepping back into this space feels tender, but I wanted to return with a message that has been anchoring me lately.

If you are navigating loss right now, here is my tip for this week: Lean into what you love and what makes you happy.

When you are deep in grief, joy can feel almost foreign—like an outfit that doesn’t quite fit anymore, or something you aren't "allowed" to feel. You might worry that smiling, creating, or enjoying a hobby means you're forgetting, or that you're somehow moving past the pain too quickly.

Let me gently remind you: Leaning into what you love doesn't take away the pain, and it doesn't mean you're 'over it.'

Grief and joy can—and often do—coexist. Doing something that brings you light doesn't erase your grief; it simply gives your heart a tiny pocket of breathing room. It gives you a moment of rest from the heavy lifting of missing someone.

So, give yourself permission to find joy in the small things again, even if it feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable at first. Whether it's picking up an old craft, spending time in the garden, listening to music, or just taking a quiet walk, let yourself enjoy it without guilt.

You can watch the full video accompaniment here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRkFIS7aNnU

Wishing all of you a gentle and peaceful Labor Day weekend. Take good care of your hearts. 🌿✨