EPISODE OVERVIEW

Melinda Laus has always felt “different.” From her earliest memories, she struggled with asthma, allergies, and feeling like her body just worked differently than other bodies did. After working throughout childhood and adolescence to get her asthma and allergies under control, she thought she had her body somewhat “figured out.” When she experienced the tragic loss of her husband when she was 32, however, Melinda’s body went into a tailspin.

It took about 2 years after her husband’s death for her to be diagnosed with hypothyroidism and adrenal exhaustion. Since then, she’s been on a path to embracing her grief, exploring the power of rest, and accepting the ebbs and flows in her energy.

In our heartfelt conversation, Melinda and I cover grief, trauma, change, isolation, and the permission to feel deeply. Melinda shares some incredible insights with me, including how she navigated the “grief within grief” after her husband’s death and her diagnosis — from grieving family lasagna dinners to accepting that her home might look like a train wreck on any given Tuesday night.

This is a moving discussion where we talk about the gifts that come from grief, and how we can all hold joy and pain in equal measure to create a truly fulfilling life.

“I am okay with being a one woman show who welcomes grief. I don't want the sad things. I don't want the tragedies to happen in my life or anybody's life, but what I found out the hard way is that I don't get a choice about that.”
— MELINDA LAUS

Highlights

I walked away from this discussion with Melinda with chills, and tears were shed in the most healing way. I hope you’ll come and listen with me as we talk about:

Grief within grief, and how it can manifest in roles within families, communities, etc.
Managing real health challenges in the midst of trauma, grief, and change
The beauty of taking care of yourself in the way you need most right now
How giving yourself permission to feel what is there opens you up to feeling so much more
What to do with those “energy chips” that all of us with health challenges know can be limited

LINKS

MELINDA LAUS

Website: http://www.courageousmourning.com/MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Elizabeth David, whose books helped Melinda find foods that helped her body recover

Allow, a poem by Danna Faulds

MONDAY, MARCH 16

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