Episode 9: The Grief Train: Lessons in Grief, Gratitude & Love

You never know when the Grief Train may stop at your station. When it does, author Marinda Freeman believes the answer isn't to avoid grief, but to honor it, learn from it, and eventually discover the gratitude and love that remain. In this heartfelt conversation, Marinda shares the story behind her book The Grief Train and the sudden loss of her husband that inspired it. Together, Judy, Jess, and Marinda explore grief, aging, friendship, remembrance, and the idea that all of life is an event worth acknowledging with intention, appreciation, and love. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🚂 Grief doesn't follow a timeline 🕯️ How rituals and personal altars can help healing 💭 The importance of feeling grief instead of avoiding it 👥 The role of community and human connection during loss 🌱 Why aging itself can sometimes create feelings of grief ✨ Learning to celebrate life while honoring loss 0:00 – Intro 3:43 – What inspired Marinda’s books 5:56 – Marinda and Mike's love story 12:30 – Grief in the 1800s 15:29 – Being present with grief 21:59 – Showing love and appreciation 24:00 – Creating altars and acknowledging grief 26:58 – Grieving relationships, youth and aging 37:54 – Everything Is An Event: Marinda’s second book 48:48 – The grief fog and the power of ceremonies 56:00 – How grief and celebration are connected 59:00 – Final thoughts Episode Links: Marinda Freeman Event Consulting: https://marindafreeman.com/ Get your copy of The Grief Train HERE Get your copy of Everything is an Event HERE #grief #navigatinggrief #widowhood #eventplanning #notreadyforthefarm Resources: Website: https://www.notreadyforthefarm.com/ Follow on Tik Tok:   / notreadyforthefarm   Follow on Facebook: https://bit.ly/4vnIasT Follow on Instagram:   / notreadyforthefarm_