BONUS: Celebrating the Women Who Shaped Me: A Special Mother's Day Episode
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In this bonus Mother's Day episode of The Life Shift Podcast, I share a small portion of a letter that my dad wrote to me. The letter reflects on the life of my mother, Joan Gilhooly, who was a kind woman with a big heart. My mother tragically passed away at the young age of 32 while on a cross-country motorcycle trip with her boyfriend. This event turned my life upside down and forced me to experience grief and loss at a young age.
I reflect on how my mother's passing impacted my life and how it led me to seek out mother figures in my life. The most significant mother figure in my life was my grandmother, who I became very close to after my mother's passing. I share how my grandmother, born in 1933, had a difficult childhood where she lost her mother at the age of two. She understood what it was like for a child to grow up without a mother and wanted to make sure that I didn't have to go through the same thing. We spent a lot of time together, went on trips, and had a very special relationship.
I also talk about how I was able to say goodbye to my grandmother before she passed away. I share how I forced a conversation with her in which we said everything that we ever needed to say to each other. I left that conversation knowing that there was nothing left unsaid and that I was at peace with our relationship. When my grandmother passed away, I was by her side, and although it was devastating, I felt a calmness to it. I knew that she believed she was going to heaven and would be reunited with my mother, who was her best friend.
This episode serves as a tribute to the two women who inspired the creation of The Life Shift Podcast and, hopefully, reminds us of the importance of cherishing the relationships we have with our loved ones. My story is a reminder that even in the face of tragedy, we can find deep and meaningful connections with others that can help us through difficult times.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there!
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