Being Present and Joyful in the Midst of Grief
I tell my clients to act on clarity in the moment. Today, I’m taking my own advice — sharing this now, while I’m living it.
This week’s post is shorter—and a bit more personal.
This weekend, I’m in North Carolina for a family reunion.
It’s my first trip back since my father passed.
And I’m a little emotional.
And while I’m glad I’m here—while I’m grateful to be able to see family,
I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel different.
Since we were young kids, we’ve been traveling to North Carolina to check in on family, get our stash of country goods to bring back north, and to visit the family cemetery to remember those who have gone on.
As my parents aged, I would road trip them down for the annual family get together. Those trips were full of laughter, the same stops every time, and always some good eating.
It’s not like I’ve never traveled down here without my parents.
I have, several times.
But this time it hits different.
I’ve always believed that returning to familiar places can reveal how much you’ve changed.
But this time, it’s not just about me changing.
In an Airbnb full of family and laughter, something still feels… “not right”.
It’s about what’s missing.
A presence. A voice. A quiet strength.
My wanting him to be here.
There’s no playbook for these moments.
No clean “lesson” to wrap around it.
Just the reminder that even in joy, there can be grief.
And even in grief, there’s room for gratitude.
This isn’t the kind of post I normally share.
But this week, it felt important to just show up with what’s real.
That’s all I got.
Whatever you’re carrying this week—
make space for it.
It’s all part of the story.
I’ll be back next week with something more practical.
But for now…
If you’re navigating something that feels “different,” you’re not alone.
And if you’re ready to talk about what’s next, I’m here.
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