Grieving in Color Episode #16:

Season 2 EP 16 Season 2 Recap with Dr. Chinasa Elue

Welcome to Grieving in Color, a podcast that explores the various ways we navigate our experiences with grief and loss in a place where we find courage to intentionally heal in our daily lives. I'm your host, Dr. Chinasa Elue, a professor, speaker, and grief coach. And I'm inviting you to join me on this journey, embracing our grief and the full spectrum of our emotions, a palette of feelings that colors our lives even in the face of loss. In each episode, we dive into real stories of healing and growth, as we also feature guests who have found strength in sorrow, love and loss, and joy even in their darkest times. Grieving in Color is about acknowledging the pain, the loss, and the grief, but it is also about finding hope, love, and joy again. Whether you are currently on your grief journey or supporting someone who is, This is a space for you. We are here to remind you that you are not alone and it's okay to grieve in your own color. 

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Hi, dear listeners, welcome to the final episode of the second season of the Grieving in Color podcast. I'm your host, Dr. Chinessa Elue, and I am so excited that you all have walked with me throughout this entire second season. It's interesting to think about the overarching journey of this podcast from season one till now.

And how we have been having these intentional conversations about ways that we can embrace our grief and fully acknowledge the spectrum of emotions that exist when we're navigating various types of grief experiences. And so as I wrap up the second season, I want to take some time to sit down and reflect on all of the amazing stories, insights, and moments of healing that have been shared as we've walked through this podcast together.

I keep thinking about when I started this podcast, how it was intentionally a space for us to have more grief-conscious conversations and to peel back the layers on a topic that oftentimes is seen as taboo. And so I'm so excited that we are here again, another season is wrapping up, but man, it's been such a journey.

And so I want to take some time today In this particular episode to unpack the many, many gems that were shared throughout the second season, and to talk about how we can continue to move forward as we're navigating grief and loss in a myriad of ways. So we had episode one, which kicked off and it was me as the guest talking about navigating death anniversaries and milestones.

 I wanted to kick off the season with that episode, because as I mentioned beforehand, this is a pivotal year for me. It's year five since I've lost my mom. And also it would have been her 60th birthday. And so I wanted to share some insights into how to prepare for these milestones and anniversaries when they arise they're arising.

Because oftentimes we know that life is busy, and if we don't create space to grieve, grief will meet us unexpectedly. And so I know that it's important in this context to begin to think about how do we be intentional about creating spaces to acknowledge what was lost, who was lost in our lives, and how do we navigate these milestones in a way that provides the space for us to be reflective, to center our needs and well-being in those particular moments and to think about how we might intentionally move forward. And so episode one provided some insights into some key ways we can begin to do that. 

Now, I want to transition to episode two because I had the amazing expert Alicia J who came on to share more about her journey in terms of navigating infertility and finding out about her potential loss of motherhood and all of the different experiences that came along with that.

When speaking with Alicia Jay, it was insightful to hear her speak about how she's had to reimagine and re-envision for herself what motherhood might look like. If you're in a context right now where you're navigating your own potential fertility journey, I believe that episode two is insightful in thinking about strategically, how do we continue to honor where we are in our own individual journeys?

And how do we also, in this context, build around us some support when we're having some challenging life experiences? And I think Alicia J provided a great framework for how to do so. 

As I was thinking about season two, I know we've covered a vast number of topics, but episode three provided an opportunity to talk about how do you go back to work or your day-to-day life and reintegrate into society after you've had a major loss.

I was excited to record that episode because oftentimes when we are reeling from the impact of such a devastating loss in life, whether it's loss of a loved one, loss of your job, loss in opportunities. Everyone may be there initially to comfort you or provide some encouragement or solace when that initial loss happens, but when the grief hits on the back end, oftentimes we are finding ourselves at times in isolation while everyone else in the world has moved forward or moved on and is living their day to day life.

And so I wanted to center that episode on some intentional ways that we can reintegrate back into our normal. lives, even though life no longer is normal in that context. How do you reintegrate back into your workplace? How do we, even if you're a friend or a colleague or a family member who has seen someone going back to work, how can we also provide support to those that we know who are walking through some form of grief?

And so I believe episode three was pivotal in thinking about some strategies and tips that can be helpful for us to be careful and intentional and providing that needed support and balance to coming back to work, but not feeling like we need to be thrust into our old activities and our old ways of doing our work. Because to be frank, we need a little grace, a little bit more tenderness as we're re-engaging back into the work. 

As we were wrapping episode three, I began to think about the importance of the remainder of the season and I invited on Chisa Uko, To talk about the grief she experienced after walking through divorce.

And if you haven't listened to the episode, I want you to pause and go back and listen to episode four. She so took her time in sharing her experiences and dealing with the grief that comes from not necessarily a physical loss, but a separation from her previous spouse. And one thing I loved about that interview was that she sort of took some time to talk about her deeply spiritual journey in regards to how her spiritual journey with God helped her to find her pathway again after walking through that experience.

And I think if you've been in a space or you're currently in a season right now where you are, Walking through divorce, I think Chiso's insights were really helpful in thinking about how we cultivate spaces where we can be supportive of those who are experiencing something similar and what we need to do when we are experiencing grief after a divorce.

After episode four, there was some opportunity to now begin to think about, for me personally, what was pivotal for my own healing journey. And so in episode five, I share very personally how spirituality, particularly my faith in Christ, was very key for me to navigate my own grief after losing my mom.

And I took some time to really share some key scriptures that were helpful for me in thinking about reimagining this new world without her. And also to think about, for me personally, how grief was such an out-of-body experience, like living without my mother physically in this present realm has been such a jarring experience in some ways that the only thing that's fully grounded me and helped me heal was my faith.

And so that episode is really insightful in providing some insights, whether you're a Christian or not, or whatever your faith tradition might be. It really was helpful in providing some insights on how spirituality can really help ground us when we have these experiences that really shake us at our core.

In episode six, I took some time to meet with Dr. Sakeena Everett, and I absolutely loved that interview. We talked about the grief experiences of Black women in higher education. And if you've been following all of the different headlines as it pertains to particularly Black women in higher education leaders, There have been so many passing of some high profile leaders, and even from their passing, it has really sparked some dialogue and conversation on what do we need to do to make sure Black women are protected and safe in higher education and beyond.

And I love that episode because Dr. Everett took some time to walk us through some key strategies and her framework on having these grief-intentional conversations and expanding our grief literacy to really encompass the full scope. of our lived experiences as academics. As you all know, I'm a professor.

So when we were chatting, I felt like I was at home because we understand what it means to exist in academia and to be a Black woman and to sit at this intersection of both being Black and woman and to experience grief personally, to experience grief When you're walking through spaces where oftentimes people don't reflect you or look like you, also to bear witness to our sisters dying on the job, literally.

And so it was such an insightful conversation. And one I hope continues even beyond this podcast, because there's so much work to be done. to continue to cultivate these spaces where Black women are protected and safe to do their job.

As we wrapped up episode six with Dr. Sakeena Everett, I transitioned to talk with Mary Torrance Williams in episode seven on the ways that we can support youth who've lost their mother. Mary Torrance Williams, as you all know, is the executive founder of the nonprofit Students Without Mothers. And she provided some amazing insights on the ways in which we can be intentional about cultivating spaces to help youth who've lost their mom at such a young age.

And I enjoyed that interview because she was very intentional about speaking to some of the resources and the wraparound services. that her organization has been able to provide youth who've lost their moms and help support them in advancing in their educational journeys. And so I think it's a really insightful episode.

I love that organization, so I want to encourage those who didn't get a chance to please listen to that episode and also make a donation to support the amazing work that Mary and her team are doing to move the work of Students Without Mothers forward. 

So as I'm doing this recap, I am just reflecting on how rewarding it's been to continue to have these conversations. And as we continue to engage in dialogues around how we navigate losses of all kinds, I think it's important to think about the significance of why these conversations are needed. We live in a space again, as I mentioned, where we oftentimes shy away from these topics. But it is an absolute necessity that we acknowledge the full spectrum of our humanity and continue to engage in grief because we have to become more grief-conscious to continue to support each other in the days, years, and months ahead.

So as I am wrapping up season two, I want to thank you so much for all of my guests who came on to bravely share their stories and their wisdom and all of their gems, their courage, and their willingness to share. really will span beyond the scope of this podcast. And hopefully, if you found any of their stories or any of the insights from this podcast to be especially supportive or helpful, I hope you'll share it with others in your network as well.

I want to thank you all so much for walking alongside of me on this journey. I want to wish you much healing as you continue to navigate your grief and loss. Thank you so much for your support and your engagement for season two. I am super excited for season three as it's coming around the corner.

There'll be much more information to come. Continue to stay connected with your community. Visit me on all social media platforms to stay connected. And until next time, I look forward to seeing you again in season three. Take care, dear listeners. Be kind to yourself and keep grieving in color. Goodbye for now.

See you soon.


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Thank you for choosing to spend time with me on this episode of Grieving in Color. If today's episode has resonated with you, or if you know someone who might benefit from our conversation, please share this episode with them. Also, I would love to hear your thoughts, your stories, and the ways I can support you as you navigate your own grief. You can reach out to me on my website at www.drchinasaelue.com or connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram @drchinasaelue. Your participation, feedback, and story help us keep this conversation going and reach those who need it the most. Remember, there's no right way to grieve. There's only your way, and every shade of your grief is valid. 

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This episode of the Grieving in Color podcast is brought to you by Rachael Sanya and Productions.