Episode #93
Who Checks on the Strong Friend? Grief, Reciprocity & Real Connection
I’m still grieving the loss of my friend Danielle, and this week I came home from her wake and funeral with even more to process. This episode is another real, off-the-cuff conversation about what grief has been bringing to the surface for me: anger, sadness, unanswered questions, changing beliefs, old friendships, family dynamics, authenticity, and something I think a lot of “strong” people eventually have to ask: Who is checking on me? I talk about why anger actually helped me process some of my grief, what it felt like attending a Christian funeral while now identifying as agnostic, and how I’m learning to make room for people whose beliefs are different from mine without abandoning my own. The funeral also brought me back into rooms with people I have known for years, and that made me think about how relationships change as we change. Can people who knew an older version of you make room for who you are now? How much should you hold back just to keep the peace? When does being understanding turn into always being the person expected to adjust? And when you are usually the person checking on everybody else, holding space, solving problems, or being “the strong one,” what happens when you need somebody too? We talk about reciprocal relationships, checking the facts instead of assuming people don’t care, giving people the opportunity to show up differently, knowing when to stop chasing one-sided connections, and finding people who allow you to show up as your full self. One thing grief keeps reminding me is that we were never meant to do all of this alone. Find your people. Let them know you exist. Give people an opportunity to love the person you are becoming. And give yourself permission to not just live—but to Live & Be Great. Timestamps: 00:00 — I Need People to Check on Me Too 00:21 — Processing Grief After Danielle’s Funeral 02:09 — Why We Need Answers After Loss 03:27 — Anger, Sadness & Grief 05:06 — Faith, Survival & the Gray Areas 08:09 — The Funeral: Comfort, Memories & Changing Beliefs 12:08 — Reconnecting With Old Friends 17:06 — Who Supports the Strong Friend? 18:55 — Will People Accept Who You’ve Become? 20:12 — Changing the Standard & Checking the Facts 25:03 — When Grief Is Everywhere 27:02 — When Loss Brings People Back Together 30:04 — What Real Support Can Look Like 30:59 — Give People a Chance to Show Up 33:03 — Authenticity, Support & Finding Your Tribe 36:06 — Worthiness, Accountability & Living Great Need support understanding the patterns showing up in your life or relationships? Book a free consultation with Latonya McDonald, MS: https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/LiveBeGreatLLC1@liveandbegreat.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled Learn more: https://liveandbegreat.com/ #GriefSupport #StrongFriend #LiveAndBeGreat
