#117 - LOSING OUR PARENTS – a tender conversation with Mette Koppelaar about saying goodbye with authenticity and care

What happens when life brings us face to face with loss – especially the loss of our parents? And how can we stay connected to our truth, our emotions, and each other in the process?

In this deeply personal and moving episode, Nora speaks with Mette about authenticity during the dying process of loved ones. Together, they explore what it means to create real moments, even when those moments are hard, messy, or filled with uncertainty.

We talk about the power of honesty and embodied presence: 🕊 When and how to express truth in tender moments – and when it might not be safe 🕊 Why authenticity can sometimes feel performative and how to reclaim it 🕊 How we can cultivate inner safety and permission to be real with ourselves and others 🕊 What it means to express our feelings to our parents

We also touch on:

• Personal rituals and creative ways to say goodbye
• Honoring the reality of death through embodied experiences
• Funeral ceremonies and memory-sharing
• And the deep truth: every moment can be the last.

This episode is not a list of “shoulds” – but an invitation. An honest, heartfelt offering of stories, reflections, and ideas for creating connection, even in the most difficult transitions of life.

If there’s something you want to say, a hug you want to give, or a truth that’s waiting to be spoken – let this conversation be a gentle reminder that now might be the moment.

If you are interested in it, you can contact Mette and for the link to the web page with more photos and details of his mums ceremony, see below for contact details.

Mette Koppelaar is a writer, facilitator, and overall curious human who looks for authentic expression in playful and meaningful ways. He loves to play with identity, normalize emotions, expand self-expression, and build connection by exploring our uniqueness as well as our shared humanity.

His upcoming program, Ambassadors For Humanity, starts on 31 Oct 2025 in Berlin. Over the course of five weekends, we’ll explore how we can welcome our full range of human expression—for ourselves, within our relationships, and in society as a whole.

All info at: https://ambassadorsforhumanity.org

To check out Mette’s other offerings, or work with him one on one, go to: https://mettekoppelaar.com

Or follow Mette on Telegram (https://t.me/mettekoppelaar)) or Instagram (https://instagram.com/koppelaar))

📩 We also offer online psychological coaching & support – feel free to reach out: gluecklichverkopft@outlook.de

If you enjoy the episode, we’d love for you to support the podcast by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Spotify, and by sharing it with your friends. Every bit of support helps us reach more hearts.

You’re always welcome to send us feedback, ideas, or your moment of the week via gluecklichverkopft@outlook.de. And find us on Instagram – we’d love to connect: 🔗 https://www.instagram.com/gluecklichverkopft/?hl=de

Authenticity #Grief #DeathAndDying #RealMoments #ParentLoss #EmotionalHealing #EndOfLife #Presence #Vulnerability #CourageToFeel #InnerSafety #SayingGoodbye #FuneralRituals #SelfCompassion #FacilitationTools #EmbodyingTruth #NervousSystemCare #AuthenticLiving #LifeIsShort #PsychologyPodcast