Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

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Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Shaleka

22 episodes

6 days ago

Send us a text Christmas can be beautiful—and heavy. For many, this season carries joy and grief side by side. This Christmas meditation is a quiet, sacred pause for anyone navigating loss, loneliness, or complicated emotions during the holidays. Whether you’re missing someone you love, feeling disconnected from the cheer around you, or simply needing a moment to breathe, this meditation offers space without pressure. Through gentle breathing, reflection on the true story of Christmas, and pe...

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Health & Fitness

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Send us a text Christmas can be beautiful—and heavy. For many, this season carries joy and grief side by side. This Christmas meditation is a quiet, sacred pause for anyone navigating loss, loneliness, or complicated emotions during the holidays. Whether you’re missing someone you love, feeling disconnected from the cheer around you, or simply needing a moment to breathe, this meditation offers space without pressure. Through gentle breathing, reflection on the true story of Christmas, and pe...

Show more...

Health & Fitness

Episodes (20/22)

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

A Christmas Meditation for the Heavy-Hearted

Send us a text Christmas can be beautiful—and heavy. For many, this season carries joy and grief side by side. This Christmas meditation is a quiet, sacred pause for anyone navigating loss, loneliness, or complicated emotions during the holidays. Whether you’re missing someone you love, feeling disconnected from the cheer around you, or simply needing a moment to breathe, this meditation offers space without pressure. Through gentle breathing, reflection on the true story of Christmas, and pe...

1 week ago

9 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?

Send us a text Christmas is supposed to be joyful—but what happens when the lights feel too bright, the rooms feel too quiet, and the ache of absence is louder than the music? In this episode, What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas?, we sit with the reality many people don’t talk about: the loneliness that often shows up during the holidays. Whether you’re grieving a loved one, navigating separation, feeling disconnected from family, or simply trying to survive a season that doesn’t feel merry, t...

1 week ago

14 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Ending the Year Strong

Send us a text As the year comes to a close, the pressure to “finish strong” can feel overwhelming—especially if this year included loss, grief, or unexpected challenges. In this episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, Shaleka Smith reframes what it truly means to end the year strong. This conversation invites you to slow down, reflect honestly, and release what no longer serves you. Together, we explore how strength doesn’t always look like productivity or achievement, but often shows u...

2 weeks ago

26 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

A Soft Place to Land: A 7-Minute Grief Meditation

Send us a text In this special bonus episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, Shaleka offers a gentle, grounding, 7-minute guided meditation created for anyone carrying the quiet weight of grief. Whether you’re navigating a fresh loss, an old wound that still aches, or the heaviness that shows up during the holidays and hard seasons, this meditation invites you into stillness, breath, and emotional safety. Through calming imagery, compassionate reflection, and faith-centered grounding, th...

1 month ago

9 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

When Grief Shows Up for the Holidays

The holidays can intensify grief in ways we don’t always expect. In this episode, “When Grief Shows Up for the Holidays,” host Shaleka Smith explores why sorrow feels heavier this season and how cultural traditions, faith practices, and intentional rituals can offer comfort and connection. We discuss the emotional complexity of holiday grief, the triggers that surface, and practical ways to honor loved ones while caring for ourselves. Whether you’re navigating memories, loneliness, or the pre...

1 month ago

17 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Is This Depression or Just Grief?

In this episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, host Shaleka Smith takes an honest, compassionate look at one of the most common—and confusing—questions after loss: Is this depression, or just grief? Grief and depression often look and feel alike. Both can bring tears, exhaustion, and a deep sense of emptiness. But while grief is a natural response to loss, depression can linger, intensify, and quietly pull us into isolation and hopelessness. Shaleka breaks down the emotional, physical, ...

1 month ago

23 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Funeral Etiquette: Then vs. Now - A Concersation Between Mother and Daughter

In this special mother–daughter episode, host Shaleka Smith sits down with her 19-year-old daughter for an honest, funny, and heartfelt conversation about funeral etiquette across generations. From traditional black attire and quiet reverence to today’s bright colors, hashtags, and “celebrations of life,” they explore how customs have evolved — and what those changes say about the way we honor loss. Together, they unpack everything from church etiquette and sermons to social media, grief expr...

1 month ago

57 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

I Thought I Was Over It

Have you ever thought you were finally past your grief—only for it to hit you out of nowhere years later? In this deeply personal episode, host Shaleka Smith explores the surprising ways grief can resurface during milestones, quiet moments, or unexpected memories. Through heartfelt storytelling, faith-filled reflection, and practical guidance, Shaleka reminds listeners that resurfacing grief isn’t failure—it’s love revisiting. You’ll hear about the day a simple memory pulled her back into tea...

2 months ago

28 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

The Little Hearts: Childhood Grief

In this episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, host Shaleka Smith explores how children experience grief and how adults can guide them through it with compassion and honesty. Grief doesn’t just affect adults—children process loss in their own unique ways, and without guidance, they may carry confusion or fear into the future. Shaleka breaks down what grief looks like at different developmental stages, why it’s important to talk openly with children about death, and best practices for he...

2 months ago

21 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Trauma Bonding vs. Grief Community: What's the Difference?

Not every connection in grief is healthy. In this powerful episode, Shaleka Smith unpacks the difference between trauma bonding and building a grief community. Though both can begin with shared pain, only one leads to lasting healing. Through storytelling, scripture, reflection prompts, and real-life examples, you’ll discover: What trauma bonding looks like (and why it keeps you stuck)How a grief community supports growth, not just survival5 signs you may be in a trauma bondEncouragement to b...

6 months ago

13 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

What NOT to Say When Someone Is Grieving

In this powerful and honest episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, host Shaleka Smith breaks down the well-meaning but often hurtful things people say to those who are grieving—and what you should say instead. From “Everything happens for a reason” to “Be strong,” we explore why these phrases can unintentionally deepen someone’s pain and how we can offer true comfort instead. With real-life stories, scripture, and a touch of humor, Shaleka guides listeners through the do’s and don’ts of...

7 months ago

30 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Release Yourself from Guilt

In this episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, we dive into one of the most complex emotions that grief brings—guilt. Inspired by Milton Butler’s story from Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, we explore the overwhelming feeling of wishing we had done things differently and how those thoughts can consume us. Whether it’s the regret of missed moments, unspoken words, or the haunting question of "what if," guilt can make the grieving process even more difficult. Join me as we unpack...

7 months ago

14 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Empty Seat - Teacher's Grief After Losing Students to Gun Violence

In this powerful episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, host Shaleka Smith sits down with Alea Allen, an educator who previously taught in Chicago and who has faced the unimaginable—losing multiple students to gun violence. Inspired by the heartfelt chapter Empty Seat by Alea Allen, this conversation sheds light on the grief teachers carry while continuing to show up for their students daily. Shaleka and Alea discuss the emotional toll of seeing a student’s name on the roster af...

8 months ago

33 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Write Your Own Obituary

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, Shaleka Smith invites listeners to explore the idea of writing their own obituary—both literally and metaphorically. Inspired by the New York Times article “Write Your Own Obit,” Shaleka discusses why taking ownership of your life story is a gift to your loved ones and a guide for living with purpose. She breaks down what key elements to include in an obituary, shares how obituary writing can be a tool for healing and...

8 months ago

13 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

The Masks We Wear in Grief

In this episode of Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, we discuss the emotional masks we wear while grieving. So many of us say "I'm fine" when we're anything but. We feel the pressure to be strong, keep busy, and hold it all together—often at the cost of our healing. But what happens when we remove the mask and allow ourselves to grieve honestly? Join me as we explore the different types of grief masks, why we wear them, and the toll they take on our emotional, spiritual, and physical ...

8 months ago

18 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Grieving the Death of an Abuser – A Complex Journey

What happens when the person who caused you deep pain dies, and the world expects you to grieve them? In this powerful episode, host Shaleka Smith sits down with a sexual assault survivor and advocacy worker, Saunté Harden-Tate, to explore the complicated emotions that surface when an abuser passes away. From unexpected relief to lingering guilt, awkward condolences to silent rage, this conversation gets real about the grief no one talks about—but so many survivors carry. With honesty, empath...

8 months ago

47 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

The Process of Rising

In this episode of Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, we reflect on the journey to Resurrection Sunday and the deep emotions that come with life's challenges. Just as Jesus experienced grief and anguish before His Resurrection, we, too, go through painful processes before breakthrough moments. Even when we know victory is ahead, the weight of the journey can still be overwhelming. Let's explore the parallels between Jesus' suffering and our own struggles, reminding us that while grief a...

8 months ago

6 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Losing a Friend

In this episode of Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, we dive into one of the most unexpected and painful experiences—losing a friend who is in your age range. Inspired by DeAnna Gibson's heartfelt story in Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, we explore the shock, sadness, and reality check that comes with losing a peer far too soon. How do we process the finality of their absence? How do we cope with the way their passing forces us to confront our mortality? And how can we honor their memory wh...

8 months ago

13 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Slow Down and Process

On this episode of Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This, we explore the importance of slowing down and allowing ourselves the time and space to process grief. In a world that often pressures us to "move on" quickly, we discuss why true healing requires patience, self-compassion, and intentional reflection. I'll share personal experiences, practical strategies for embracing stillness, and the ways grief manifests when we try to rush through it. Whether you're in the early stages of loss or revisit...

9 months ago

28 minutes

Grief, I Didn't Sign Up for This

Can Grief and Joy Coexist?

In this episode of Grief, I Didn’t Sign Up for This, we explore the delicate balance between sorrow and joy. Can you experience moments of happiness while still carrying deep grief? Is it possible to honor your loss while allowing yourself to embrace joy without guilt? Join me as I dive into this emotional and thought-provoking topic, sharing personal reflections, insights from grief experts, and stories of resilience. We’ll discuss how joy doesn’t erase grief but can exist alongside ...

9 months ago

16 minutes