7. The Messy Truth About Love With Nowhere to Go: National Grief Awareness Day

Grief doesn't follow any rules, and it's really just love with nowhere to go. But nobody tells you how to navigate those waves when they hit you in the middle of Target 3 years later.Today's episode is deeply personal as we honor Grief Awareness Day by sharing our own stories of loss, caregiving, and the messy reality of grief that doesn't fit into neat stages or timelines. We're talking about the kind of grief that ambushes you, the guilt that comes with feeling relieved when someone's suffering ends, and why checking on your friends a month after the funeral matters more than showing up on the day itself.I’m opening up about losing both parents back-to-back while serving as their full-time caregiver, navigating the impossible balance of grieving my mother while caring for my terminally ill father. Irene shares her experience of grieving parts of herself during cancer treatment: the loss of hair, weight gain from steroids, and having to mourn the person she saw in the mirror while fighting for her life.We're not here to make grief pretty, because it's not. We're here to talk honestly about how it really feels. The waves that knock you flat when you least expect them, the guilt, the exhaustion, and the strange relief that can come with loss. But we're also talking about the growth, resilience, and unexpected ways grief connects us as humans.This conversation covers everything from what not to say to grieving friends (spoiler: "let me know if you need anything" isn't helpful) to practical ways to support someone months after everyone else has moved on. Whether you're currently grieving or supporting someone who is, this episode reminds you that you're not alone.In today's episode, we're talking about:Why grief doesn't just follow the five stagesThe hidden grief of caregivingWhat to say (and not say) to grieving friendsThe importance of checking on people weeks and months laterHow to channel love that has nowhere to goConnect with us: Check out our website Follow us on Instagram