Hello, friend

It's been a while since I've written, and I'm grateful you're still here. 

The past year has been the most difficult and heartbreaking of my life. My darling dad, Martin Stuart, died last October, and even now, 14 months later, just typing those words feels heavy.

Joining the Club

I've joined the Grief Club, a place that you may already be familiar with, but I guess I'm still considered a newbie. Because of my work with people like you, I thought I understood grief - but I've come to realize that it's not something you can learn from others. I used to think it was just about being sad, but I could never have anticipated the deep sense of longing - the thirst that no amount of water can quench. 

Grief Is Where My Love Lives

Grief has changed me in ways I couldn’t have imagined, and even with support, it’s such a lonely experience because it’s a journey we each must take alone. And there is no finish line, and for me, that's okay because I don't want this to ever end. Because grief is where my love lives, and those moments of longing are when I feel closest to him. It's also where I feel his legacy—the same legacy I've felt becoming part of mine, something I carry forward every day, often without even realizing it. It's strange and beautiful to feel the essence of someone you love sinking into your bones, shaping who you are and who you're becoming.

Grief Needs a Home

Sharing my stories has reminded me how profoundly we’re all connected by both love and loss. I often wonder - would the world hold more love if we gave grief a place to live? This past year has taught me that, as painful as it is, grief has the power to foster connection, deepen legacy, and remind me that love doesn’t end but continues to grow in new and unexpected ways.

How do you carry the legacies of the people you love? Hit reply and let me know - I’d love to hear from you. 

In love and legacy, 

P.S. The holidays can be extra challenging for some of us Club members. If you’re navigating loss this season, my post from a few years ago, “Bright Lights and Broken Hearts,” may resonate. You can read it here. 

Wishing you moments of peace and connection this holiday season.