Grief doesn’t follow a straight line. It twists, turns, doubles back, and sometimes drops you into places you never imagined. To travel this road, you need to keep your tank filled—rest, nourishment, support—because the journey includes potholes, detours, and dead ends you can’t predict.

Sometimes your internal GPS simply stops working. When that happens, don’t be surprised. Find people who can help you navigate when you can’t see the road yourself.

Some people experience grief as a tidal wave—sobs, tremors, an emotional earthquake that shakes them to their core. Others remain dry‑eyed, numb, or eerily calm. That’s often labeled “shock,” and I believe that’s where I’m living right now.

There is no timetable for grief, no matter how many well‑meaning voices urge us to “move on,” “get over it,” or “let the memories carry us forward.” Moving on—however slowly, however shakily—is part of living. Even in shock, I’m taking steps into tomorrow because I am still here.

For some, the emotional roller coaster is visible to everyone around them. For others, it’s internal and silent. Either way, it’s essential that we don’t judge our own emotions or allow anyone else to judge them. There is no normal. Yesterday I wrote about that very question, and the truth remains: each of us must find our own map.

My path may not look like yours. Your way of facing loss may not resemble mine. We each get to choose the route that feels right for us.

Time can help heal—but only if we participate in the healing. Time alone, without effort or intention, can deepen the hurt and keep us stuck. Accepting help, guidance, and support is part of that effort. I’m not naturally good at asking for help—I’m usually the one who shows up for others—but I’m learning to reach for the hands extended toward me.

Not everyone will be open to hearing your grief story, but sharing it still matters. As your story unfolds, it may offer insight, comfort, or awareness to someone who needs it.

Self‑care is non‑negotiable. Each day I prepare myself—emotionally, physically, spiritually—for what could be, what might be, and what will be. Keeping myself together, inside and out, is one way I honor my loss.

I am my own expert on this new road I’m paving. I carry my memories and the love I shared with my husband, just as I carry the love of family and friends who have gone before him. I find comfort not only in the past but in the new pathways I will discover as I continue to live.

Forty‑two years of marriage is a lifetime. My life continues without Richard in physical form, but he is with me spiritually, woven into every step I take. And today, I’m choosing to take a new step—maybe even one that feels like a dance.

What in the World with Paul Seaburn goes live today at approximately 3:30 PM Eastern. Join us in real time by clicking here:
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February 3, 2026, marks the beginning of an exciting new collaboration with Cleveland13 News WCTU.
WCTU’s mission is to empower and unite the community through reliable, unbiased, and engaging news coverage.

Paul Seaburn and his crew bring their own signature twist to that mission with “Real News, Sometimes Strange, Always Funny.” This segment/podcast is designed purely for your entertainment—smart, quirky, and delightfully off‑beat.

Today’s show is sponsored by:

• “What Would You Say to a Naked Alien?” www.paulseaburn.com
• Henriette Ivanans‑McIntyre, author of a powerful and vulnerable personal journey
  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Henriette+Ivanans-McIntyre
• #yesican Coaching with Karen – Life coaching for real people navigating real transitions kh.yesican1@gmail.com

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