Greg’s Velveteen Rabbit: What Love Leaves Behind

“By the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.” Most of us remember The Velveteen Rabbit as a charming nursery tale. But for a caregiver, it becomes something else entirely. It becomes a mirror. Following the sudden passing of her friend and colleague, Dr. Greg Hinson, Thérèse found herself unexpectedly redirected by a single, poignant moment from his celebration of life. It led her to a 24-minute story that captures, with startling precision, the invisible transformation of “the after.” In this episode: The Cost of Being Chosen Why the “wear and tear” on your nervous system and identity isn’t a breakdown—it’s the imprint of deep love. The Disorientation of the Shelf What happens when the role that made you “Real” suddenly ends… and you’re left asking who you are without it. The Transformation A reflection on the quiet moment when grief stops being only an ending… and begins to open into something new. If you feel worn thin, unanchored, or “shabby” from the weight of your caregiving journey… this episode is for you. This isn’t just about a book. It’s about the kind of love that changes you forever— and the person you become because of it. A reflection inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Greg Hinson.