From Words to Heartfelt Action: Growing My Grief Journey Beyond Greeting Cards

As I continue to navigate this journey of supporting others in grief, I find myself standing at a crossroads of growth and new purpose. My greeting cards have been a powerful way to connect with others, providing heartfelt words and support during the toughest times. But over the past few months, I’ve realized that while my cards are essential and will always be part of my work, my heart is being pulled to a broader calling.

(My cards are NOT going anywhere and my mission/goals with that will remain the same and be my creative front. I still have a lot of growth and creativity left when it comes to the card end of the business).

My book, Chapters of a Resilient Heart, sparked something within me—a desire to go deeper, to share not just words but my voice, my story, my resilience. I wanted my journey through loss to serve a greater purpose, not only for my own healing but to help others find growth in their grief. 

This December, I have the incredible honor of speaking at The Worldwide Candle lighting Ceremony with The Compassionate Friends for our local Omaha Chapter.  This event brings together grieving parents, grandparents, and siblings from around the world in a collective act of remembrance and solidarity. We light a candle in memory of our child that has died at 7:00pm your local time and it creates a 24 hour wave of light around the world in memory of all our precious children.

Am I perfectly polished or at ease with public speaking? Not at all. But, I feel privileged to have the chance to speak to so many who have walked this path and to hold space for our shared experiences. Each step is a way to honor those we’ve lost and to give back to the community. It’s not just about speaking; it’s about creating an honest, safe space for growth, compassion, and connection in grief.

Today, I’m also taking a moment to celebrate a new chapter in my journey: I’m now a Certified Grief Coach. For years, I’ve walked my own grief path, finding ways to turn my pain into purpose. This certification feels like a step further in my commitment to help others feel seen, heard, and understood through their own journeys of loss. The process of becoming a grief coach was inspiring, deepening my understanding of grief and of the strength it takes to support others in their healing.

As I’ve grown in my journey, I’ve come to understand a deep truth: I have the space within me to hold another grieving heart. My purpose is not to 'fix' grief but to guide others through it with compassion and understanding. This is the beauty of becoming a grief coach—it’s not about removing someone’s pain but rather about walking beside them as they navigate it.

As a coach, my role is to support grievers in honoring their past while finding hope and purpose for the future, moving from merely functioning to flourishing. It's about discovering ways to live with the memory of what they've lost and still move forward.

I’m honored to be part of this entire journey I have created, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to make an impact, whether through a card, a story, or sitting alongside someone in their grief. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER and I am with ALL of you in any capacity you need. 

(Please stay tuned and continue to follow me as I will start offering my coaching services in January 2025. If you know of someone that could use a grief coach, please send them my way. Also, if you know of any place, corporation, organization that would benefit from a grief speaker, let me know and I'd be honored to chat with them on how I could serve them)

IMAGE: computer diploma...real certification coming in the mail soon.