Journey to Grateful

EP172 - Taking Off the Ring: A Widow’s Most Personal Choice

The decision of whether — or when — to take off your wedding ring after losing a spouse is one of the most personal and emotional choices we face in grief. It’s not simply about jewelry; it’s about love, identity, and how we choose to honor the life we shared. In this episode, we’ll explore the many layers of this struggle: the pressure of outside expectations, the deep symbolism of the ring, and how timing looks different for everyone. I’ll also share my own journey with this decision and the private, intentional way I approached removing my ring one year after Colleen’s passing. Together, we’ll uncover why there is no right or wrong choice — only what feels true for you — and how you can permit yourself to move forward in a way that honors both your love and your grief.

EP171 - Grief and Identity: Who Am I Without Them?

Losing someone you love doesn’t just take them from your life — it can feel like it takes you from yourself. In this heartfelt episode, I share how the death of my wife, Colleen, left me questioning who I was without her, and how grief reshapes our identity in quiet, complicated ways. From the roles we lose — spouse, partner, parent, child — to the slow, tentative steps of rediscovering who we are, I offer honesty, compassion, and hope for anyone feeling unmoored by loss. Whether you’ve lost a spouse, a parent, a child, or someone else who helped define your sense of self, this conversation reminds you that while grief changes you, it also gives you the chance to meet a new version of yourself — one still shaped by love, even in their absence.

EP170 - Grieving in a World That’s Moved On: When the Silence Hurts

What happens when the world moves on, but your grief hasn’t? In this episode of Journey to Grateful, I reflect on the silence that often follows loss—when friends and family return to their normal routines, while you’re left navigating a reality that will never be the same.Now, more than five years after my wife Colleen’s passing, I share how grief continues to show up in unexpected ways, including during a recent milestone moment: moving my son to college. While many see such moments as purely joyful, they can also reopen the wound of absence, reminding us of the chapters we were meant to share with those we’ve lost.This conversation explores the ache of feeling left behind, the weight of disenfranchised grief, and why grief can still feel raw years later. I also offer ways to stay grounded when the support fades—through speaking their name, finding new circles of understanding, and creating small rituals to keep love present.If you’ve ever felt like your grief is “too much” or wondered why it still hurts long after others think it should have eased, this episode is a reminder: grief has no timeline, and neither does love.

EP169 - When Grief Comes Again: Love, Family, and Unexpected Loss

Grief doesn’t always come just once—it circles back when we least expect it. In this deeply personal episode, Tim shares the recent and sudden loss of a dear friend and how that grief ripples through his life, touching memories, love, and family all over again. From navigating the emotions of supporting a grieving family to confronting the echoes of his own loss, this conversation is a reminder that grief doesn’t follow a timeline—and neither does healing. Whether you’re walking through a fresh loss or supporting someone who is, this episode speaks to the heart of what it means to simply show up and be present in the hardest moments.

EP168 - The Weight of Milestones: Facing Birthdays, Holidays, and Anniversaries After Loss

Milestones can carry a surprising weight in the grieving process. Birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays — even the quiet, ordinary dates that hold personal meaning — can stir up emotions we thought we’d tucked away. In this episode, we will explore how these moments can both ache with what’s missing and glow with the warmth of what was. Through personal stories, including the first anniversary of my wife Colleen’s passing, I'll share honest reflections on why milestone dates can be so powerful, and how we can face them with intention, tenderness, and love.