Shelby Forsythia's Blog, page 4

The 9 Most-Loved Episodes of the Grief Seeds Podcast

When I launched Grief Seeds in March 2021, the world was still deep in the uncertainty and isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Grievers everywhere were carrying compounding losses—of loved ones, of routines, of connection, of the lives they thought they’d be living. I created Grief Seeds to meet that moment. Not with quick fixes or overly polished advice, but with thoughtful, grounded reflections on grief.

Each episode was rooted in personal truth, emotional honesty, and the hope that naming what...

Loss, Bereavement, Grief, and Mourning: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters

Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash

If you’ve experienced a life-altering loss—whether through death, divorce, diagnosis, or another major transition—you’ve likely heard terms like “grief,” “mourning,” “bereavement,” and “loss” tossed around, often interchangeably.

People say things like, “I’m so sorry for your loss,” or “Are you still in mourning?” or “He took bereavement leave,” without really thinking about what those words mean—or how different they actually are.

But the truth is: each of these wo...

5 Years Into the Pandemic: Grief Is Still Here, Even Though the World Has Moved On

Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

In March 2020, the world as we knew it permanently changed.

We masked up and sheltered in place. We waved to loved ones through glass. We moved work, school, and socializing largely online. We applauded (and overworked) essential workers. We commemorated milestones like weddings, new births, graduations, and deaths from a distance. We said our goodbyes over FaceTime.

Yet five years later, much of the world has “gone back to normal,” as if the pandemic nev...

7 Journaling Prompts for Grief When You’re Staring at a Blank Page

They’ll help you start writing when you don’t know where to begin.Photo by Nils Stahl on Unsplash

There’s something uniquely haunting about a blank page when you’re grieving.

It’s not just the absence of words-it’s the pressure to somehow explain the unexplainable, to make sense of a shattered world with nothing but a pen and a piece of paper. They seem like such little tools in the face of something monstrous.

See if this sounds like you: You sit down to write, hoping that journaling about what yo...

Growing Around Grief

How to Grow Through Grief Instead of “Getting Over It”Photo by Elaine Casap on Unsplash

Society treats grief like an inconvenience.

From the moment loss enters our lives, we’re met with the pressure to “move on,” “find closure,” and “let go.” People offer well-meaning but hurtful advice like “They wouldn’t want you to be sad,” or “You have to be strong and keep going.” Workplaces grant a handful of bereavement days, as if our grief can be neatly packaged into a long weekend. Friends and family che...

The Top 6 Listener-Favorite Episodes of Dear Grief Guide Advice Podcast

I launched Dear Grief Guide on a deeply personal day—the 10-year anniversary of my mom’s death.

Inspired by advice podcasts like Dear Sugars and The Savage Lovecast and newspaper advice columns like Dear Abby and Dear Prudence, I created Dear Grief Guide as an intentional space where grievers could write in with their hardest, messiest, and most vulnerable questions-and receive both heartfelt wisdom and practical tools in response.

Each episode is less than 30 minutes, making it easy to listen whi...

How To Feel Less Alone In Grief

Three comforting tools for times when no one understandsPhoto by Noah Silliman on Unsplash

Grief can be one of the loneliest experiences in the world.

Even when you’re surrounded by people, it can feel like no one truly sees what you’re carrying. And if your grief isn’t obvious to others—ie. if you’re not crying in public or talking about it often—it can be even easier to feel invisible.

But here’s something important to remember: Even in hardest, darkest seasons of grief, you are not alone. And if...

The 8 Most Popular Episodes of the Coming Back Grief Podcast

When I launched Coming Back: Conversations on Life After Loss in May 2017, I had no idea just how popular these interviews would be with grievers.

I was a first-time podcaster, fresh out of a broken engagement and just three years out from my mother’s unexpected death from cancer. In the loneliness and lost-ness of my grief, I’d found solace in others’ podcasts, and I felt called to create yet another corner of the world where conversations on grief were not just happening-but welcome.

Over three ...

11 Black Women + Femmes Shaping the Grief Space

Therapists, Coaches, & Authors to FollowDeath Doula Alua Arthur | Image copyright: TED Talks, 2023

Grief is universal-but the way we talk about it, support each other through it, and make space for it in our lives is deeply shaped by culture, identity, and lived experience. And yet, the most widely known grief books, therapists, and social media accounts share a predominantly white perspective.

Black women and femmes have long been at the forefront of grief work, not only as therapists and authors...

What’s Your Grief Support Style?

Grievers tend to fall into one of four grief support styles. Take this free quiz to find out yours.Photo by Daniel Thomas on Unsplash

You’ve heard it before: Grief is not one-size-fits-all—and neither is grief support!

What works for one person might feel overwhelming, rushed, or even boring for another. Some people thrive in group settings, while others prefer self-guided support. Some want deep, introspective exploration, while others need clear, actionable steps to move forward.

So, how do you k...