A Letter to My 8-Year-Old Self: Living 36 Years Without My Mother episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 1, 2025 · 8 MIN

A Letter to My 8-Year-Old Self: Living 36 Years Without My Mother

from The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After · host Matt Gilhooly

In this special bonus episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I mark the 36th anniversary of my mom’s passing by sharing something deeply personal. Usually, I’m the one listening as guests reflect on their life-altering moments. But today, I turn the question back on myself. What would I tell the 8-year-old version of me – the boy who lost his mom in 1989 and had no choice but to grow up too quickly? I share a letter I wrote to that younger self. It’s about grief, silence, perfectionism, and the long journey toward finally letting myself feel. It’s also about learning that our stories, even the messy ones, can help others heal. This is both a remembrance and an offering – a way of honoring the little boy I once was, the mom I still miss, and the community of people who remind me that love and loss can coexist. Subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you listen: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followGet ad-free early releases and bonus content on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastJoin the newsletter for personal reflections: Newsletter Follow along on social: Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special bonus episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I mark the 36th anniversary of my mom’s passing by sharing something deeply personal. Usually, I’m the one listening as guests reflect on their life-altering moments. But today, I turn the question back on myself. What would I tell the 8-year-old version of me – the boy who lost his mom in 1989 and had no choice but to grow up too quickly? I share a letter I wrote to that younger self. It’s about grief, silence, perfectionism, and the long journey toward finally letting myself feel. It’s also about learning that our stories, even the messy ones, can help others heal. This is both a remembrance and an offering – a way of honoring the little boy I once was, the mom I still miss, and the community of people who remind me that love and loss can coexist. Subscribe to The Life Shift Podcast wherever you listen: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/followGet ad-free early releases and bonus content on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcastJoin the newsletter for personal reflections: Newsletter Follow along on social: Instagram | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

A Letter to My 8-Year-Old Self: Living 36 Years Without My Mother

0:00 8:34

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After?

This episode is 8 minutes long.

When was this The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After episode published?

This episode was published on September 1, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this special bonus episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I mark the 36th anniversary of my mom’s passing by sharing something deeply personal. Usually, I’m the one listening as guests reflect on their life-altering moments. But today, I turn the...

Can I download this The Life Shift | Conversations About Life Before and After episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!