Episode 3: Are My Best Days Behind Me?

In this week’s episode, Lauren explores a tender and deeply human question many widows quietly wrestle with after loss:
“Are my best days behind me?”

This episode dives into the complex layers of survivor’s guilt — the quiet ache that asks, “Why them and not me?” or “What right do I have to feel joy again?” — and offers gentle guidance for moving through that guilt with compassion and understanding.

Lauren shares the story of her first holiday season without Kevin and how she learned to hold both grief and joy at the same time — discovering that healing isn’t about “moving on,” but rather carrying love forward in new ways.

Through heartfelt reflection and practical tools, this episode reminds you that:

In This Episode

• What Survivor’s Guilt really is — and why naming it can be so freeing
• How guilt and fear can make joy feel like a betrayal
• The paradox of wanting to live again but fearing what that means
• Why healing isn’t the absence of pain, but the expansion of your capacity to hold both grief and love
• Gentle, practical tools for allowing small moments of light back into your life

Practical Invitations

1. Create small, intentional moments of presence — a cup of tea, a deep breath, a quiet moment outside.
2. Honor your emotions without judgment — both joy and sorrow have a place at the table.
3. Connect intentionally — reach out to someone who “gets it.”
4. Write reflectively — explore prompts like:
   • What’s a small moment of light I noticed today?
   • How did I feel alive, even for a moment, while grieving?
   • What does it feel like to carry my person with me while still experiencing joy?

Key Takeaway

You don’t move on from someone you love — you move forward with them, carrying their memory into each new moment.
Grief and joy are not opposites — they can coexist, side by side, shaping a new kind of beauty in the “after.”

Next Week

’Tis the Season to Be Thankful (When You’re Not Feeling Very Thankful At All)
We’ll explore how to navigate the holidays when gratitude feels impossible — and how to create small rituals of comfort and meaning during this challenging season.

Connect with Lauren

• Learn more about Lauren’s grief support work and programs at www.laurenlentz.com
• Follow along on Instagram at @imsorrywerefriends for grief reflections and gentle reminders
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss future episodes