“Grief is so much wider and deeper than we thought. I think that in general there needs to be more acknowledgment and acceptance of grief so that people don't have to be on this treadmill just getting through life and bypassing all of these things that are hard by bucking up and doing it. That’s not healthy for anybody.”
In today’s episode, Erin speaks with good friend Megan Pizarro - woman, wife, mother, widow, and lover of life, literature, and energy.
In this episode, we discuss:

• Evolving from young pregnant newlywed to caregiver of both a new baby and ailing husband
• Losing her husband to leukemia and becoming a widow and single mother at 25
• Finding the strength to open her heart to love again while navigating an ever-evolving journey through grief, only to lose a baby girl at 9 months old.
• Struggling with her body keeping the score of her grief via painful illness
• Managing her eldest son’s grief & trauma continually expressed in behavioral struggles
• Learning how trauma and anxiety can mimic personality disorders
• Discovering her eldest son’s neurodivergence, ADHD + Anxiety, and ODD
• How having an idyllic sheltered upbringing left her without the tools necessary to face adversity
• Grieving the motherhood experience you thought you'd have and the childhood you wished for your children.
• Embracing the multi-layered stages of the grief process and using it to pull yourself out of the pain

While Megan and I discuss a lot, my favorite takeaway from our conversation is her ability to always meet grief where it’s at in such a calm, accepting manner. To be able to guide others through their grieving journey and navigate how it looks different for each of us was her gift to me. Megan has been through so much, yet continues to show up for herself, her son, and her family against all odds, thanks to the tools she’s gained through such unimaginable circumstances.

The books mentioned in today's episode can be found here:
Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell Smith - https://amzn.to/3JFIjT2
Mastering Affluence by Carol Tuttle - https://amzn.to/3pC2oD6
Spare by Prince Harry - https://amzn.to/3PLeq7F

To learn more about Megan or connect with her directly, you can find her via http://instagram.com/meganer04 or email at meganer04@hotmail.com

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