Ep 22: Finding Light After Loss with Addie Gaines

Addie Gaines, a longtime educator and former principal, faced a life-altering loss in 2017 when her husband suddenly passed away.    Writing became her outlet, eventually leading to her book Riding the Waves: Navigating Life in the Wake of Loss, which captures her first 18 months of grief.    Alongside writing, Addie turned to yoga, mindfulness, and spiritual connection - finding healing and meaning in practices that honored her emotions and the signs she saw around her.    Today, she shares her story to help others understand that grief isn’t something to “get over,” but something to move through with presence, compassion, and the courage to feel.   Key Takeaways  1. Ride the waves, don’t fight them - Emotions, like ocean tides, come in powerful surges. Instead of resisting them, allow them to move through you. This is how healing begins.   2. Presence is a Powerful Practice - Yoga, breathwork, and stillness invite us to sit with our emotions. The more present we become, the more peace we find.   3. You Don’t Have to Be Okay to Keep Going - Show up as you are. Healing isn’t about perfection, it’s about honoring your truth in each moment.   4. Ask, Don’t Assume - When supporting someone in grief, take time to ask what would truly comfort them. Love them in the way they need to be loved.   5. Your Pain Has a Purpose - What breaks you open can also awaken you. When you share your story, you create space for others to heal too. Quotes by Addie 1. “You can’t fight the waves of grief. You have to learn to move with them, that’s how you stay afloat and start to heal.”   2. “Your emotions are not problems to fix, they’re signals to honor. Let them rise, and let them move through you.”   Connect with Addie  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DestinationYogaByAddie YouTube -  https://www.youtube.com/@destinationyogabyaddie6042  Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/addiegaines  Email - [email protected]    Learn how to manage your daily stress in less than 5 minutes everywhere and anywhere. Download the "Boost your calmness techniques" to explore the opportunities life has to offer.   "Boost your calmness techniques" - https://mailchi.mp/selfawesomeness/boost-your-calmness   Our website: www.selfawesomeness.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/selfawesomeness.com Learn more: https://www.selfawesomeness.com/bio-social-links