You just never know where you're going to make a new friend!  I came upon a training that I decided to attend on a whim several weeks ago and in the chat I found a fellow Social Worker that literally spoke my language.  It was  like an "add glitter to chat for instant friendship and connection for life" situation!  I'm talking about none other than the incredibly talented Meg Duke, LCSW, owner of Amplify Wellness Mental Health and Coaching and innovator of The Perinatal Podcast,  a weekly inspirational and thought provoking opportunity to dive in with Meg and her closest colleagues and friends to all things perinatal mental health, wellbeing, self-care, grief, loss, self-discovery and so much more!  I was honored (to say the least) to be invited by Meg to be a guest on The Perinatal Podcast for episode #99!  It was a deep dive for sure but a conversation you don't want to miss and one that we will absolutely be continuing in the future.  THANK YOU MEG!

Grief and mourning are tricky words.  They get even trickier when we are in the thick of experiencing both of them.  Sure, there are textbook definitions of each of them and yes, the words grief and mourning are often used interchangeably, but they represent two very distinct aspects of how we experience and express loss.  Both are integral to the process of healing, but they show up in different ways for each and every one of us.  Not only that, but they show up for each of us differently for each and every loss that we experience.  So, even though it might seem a bit mundane, going back to basics and learning those textbook definitions can be helpful afterall.  Understanding the distinction between grief and mourning can provide clarity, compassion and practical tools for supporting ourselves and others through the most difficult times we will ever face...ever.