When my husband, Jim, died suddenly, it felt as though the ground beneath me gave way. I was unmoored at 46, holding the Christmas gifts I’d wrapped for him just days before his death. Waves of sorrow swamped me, and I couldn’t imagine how life could hold meaning again.
I’ll never forget my last glimpse of him, resting in a brown plaid flannel shirt and gold suspenders. Those were the gifts I’d chosen with love, never imagining they’d become his burial clothes. When the lid of his casket clicked shut, so did the life we’d built together.
In those early days of grief, love felt distant—like it had packed up and left along with him. I often felt alone. But grief has a way of breaking us open, and as the winds of loss cracked my heart wide, I began to see something unexpected. Love didn’t leave. It transformed. It showed up in ways I never anticipated.
Love appeared in the arms of friends who held me as I sobbed, in the kindness of strangers who offered words of comfort, and in the still, small voice of intuition that whispered, always, that I would be okay. It deepened through moments of reflection, where I felt Jim’s presence in the quiet spaces of my heart.
The wildfires in Los Angeles, and the losses they bring, remind me of this truth: love remains. Even in ashes, love is there—reshaping itself into resilience, connection, and the power to rebuild. It’s there in the neighbors offering shelter, the firefighters risking everything, and the communities pulling together to find hope.
If you’re navigating loss right now, please know this: love hasn’t left you. It’s working quietly, even if you can’t yet see it. It’s the thread that connects us all, and it will guide you forward.
Where have you found love in unexpected places during life’s darkest moments? I’d love to hear your stories. Connect with me here. Together, we can remind one another that even in the depths of grief, love is always present—transforming, deepening, and pointing the way forward.
If this resonates with you, my memoir, *Leaning into Curves*, shares more about my journey through grief, intuition, and finding love in unexpected places. And if you’re looking for support in navigating life’s challenges or discovering your own inner wisdom, I’d be honored to guide you. Let’s connect.
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