In this episode, we invited one of our friends Michelle Vande Hey to talk about how to cope with losing a loved one, and what should others do/say to offer support. First, where do you even begin? Michelle strongly suggested people not be afraid of reaching out. If you are the one who is experiencing the loss, set a clear boundary and state what you want from others. If you are the one offering help, the key is to be consistent, even after the funeral. A lot of people wonder: “I don’t even know what to say to them?” Just simply say "hi", say "I love you", or even better, offer a homemade meal, invite them over for an activity. Don’t exclude them from your life. In terms of the financial side, do your estate planning as early as possible. It’s going to be a tough conversation, but a necessary one. Dan also added that in our line of work, we see a lot of guilt from survivors. They feel guilty for being alive, spending their inheritance, or moving on. Michelle said it so well: your loved ones will want you to move on, to be happy, and to find more joy in life. Experiencing loss is not an easy journey, but we can do it if we have each other’s back!
