Hey there, Jen here, and this is a happy bit.

On our last happy bit, I talked about grief and struggle, namely my struggle with my two oldest

and them not living the life I expected they would have.

That's a funny thing, that gap between expectation and reality, because all our pain and all our stress exists in that gap.

If we would just throw out the expectation, it would be so much easier, but it's nearly

impossible when all of society has certain quote unquote norms that our kids aren't living up

to. Well, so many of you resonated with that

happy bit that you wrote to me and I appreciate all the letters I received. I want to say

thank you to each of you for taking the time to write and share your thoughts. And today I'm going

to share four of those emails with everyone listening. The first email came from Jessica,

who I know from the Vibrant Happy Woman Retreat. She is amazing. And she wrote, Jen, I just listened to your

happy bit on my way into work and it just struck me. And I cried along with you because it felt so vulnerable and I felt

validated in my journey because you shared. I wish I could just sit with you in the midst of the

grief you're feeling. Please know that what you shared about the experience of grief is so right on

and it could be so complex. Grief tends to come in waves and the thing I've learned is that

right when you think you've mastered it, all the feelings, emotions, logistics, seasons change,

milestones happen and then it hits, smacks and punches me again. I've noticed this within myself and

also within my kids. I don't know that it gets easier,

but you do become better at utilizing your own toolbox of coping strategies and what I like to

refer to as my bounce back box of resiliency skills. Journaling helps a lot because I find it helps

me uncover the things I've hidden deep inside that may have been

touched by that particular experience of grief. And if I bring it into awareness,

...