We Can Grieve with Gratitude

Gratitude. That word itself, comes with so much weight and freedom in the same moment. Reflecting on the things, the people, the circumstances we have in our lives and really taking a look at them from a place of being grateful. That carries weight. And so often, when I’m feeling “in it” with my own

Narcan Gave Me Another Chance

Heroin. Fentanyl. Yep. Those are the scary words nobody ever wants to hear, read, or even write about… today, I’m gonna attack that anxiety that is physically clutching my throat as i type this… Overdose. That was me… countless times in a battle with opiate addiction. I’ve written about my addiction and recovery story before…

Grief Does Not Make us Broken- It Makes us Human

Photo: Remember Me Photos- Jamie Ann Where there is great grief, there is great Love. And often times grief is just great Love with nowhere to go. As a Fellow Grief Bearer, I have certainly had my moments where I never understood why Grief felt so much like fear. This ever increasing lump in my

Grief Has Found It’s Place

“We run from grief because loss scares us,  yet our hearts reach toward grief  because the broken parts want to mend.” Brene Brown Ten years….. even typing those words catches my breath. One decade. It’s been 10 years since I met you, and had to say goodbye in the same breath. This milestone that i

The Gift that Grief has Become

I’ve heard it said- “Grief is just love with nowhere to go.”How true that sentiment is.  As one who has walked many roads and detours on my own grief journey, if I’ve learned anything it’s this- as much as I’ve healed and grown over the years, there are absolutely moments where my throat gets caught,

Why Vulnerability is Always Worth the Risk of What it Will Cost You.

I’ve heard it said before that anything in life worth it’s weight comes at a great cost. When it comes to the reckless abandon of authentic vulnerability, I have certainly learned this truth over and over. Sometimes the very hard way, but oh boy does being authentically vulnerable sure come at great cost. And what

The “I Love You” I Couldn’t Hear Until Now.

I LOVE PEOPLE. If you know me, have met me, or heard me interact with humans for probably longer then 10 minutes- there is absolutely one thing i hope and pray everyone I ever come in contact feels from me. And that’s that they are loved. Whoever they are, wherever they come from. I hope

The Deep Roots of Gratitude

Comparison truly is the thief of Joy. Of all the people I have met in this life, the most carefree and full of joy souls are 100% the ones who hold the least amount in their hands. The souls who have been through some of the darkest pain and grief I’ve ever even heard of.

The Day I Knew I Outgrew My Grief…

They say it gets easier with time. The pain will lessen. It won’t hurt this much someday. It won’t always be like this…. I remember hearing those well intentioned words for YEARS. I mean years… Especially in the beginning. When you’re in the throes of darkness and unspeakable suffering, those words aren’t always received as

Why I Still Say His Name

Pain is a powerful connector. As humans, we have and will continue to experience unspeakable pain. Grief, loss, rejection. All of it. It hurts. And sometimes we get hurt so deeply, that there simply are no words that could ever even begin to articulate the chasm in our chest where a once vibrant and innocent