What happens when personal tragedy strikes during turbulent times?
Amanda Martin shares openly about her journey through grief and loss in this thought-provoking conversation with host Natalie Born. Amanda describes the unexpected, meaningful conversations her story has created to help others know they aren't alone in their painful situations. She's also been able to homeschool her daughter and get a dog, both hugely therapeutic.
Amanda Elizabeth Martin, hailing from Louisville, Kentucky, captured her journey through widowhood and loss in her 2022 book, "Love, Grit, and Grace." In it, she delves into the complexities of grieving a non-fairy tale yet deeply impactful relationship, marred by her husband's addiction and betrayal. Her story is one of resilience, detailing her path to healing and growth, supported by her faith, daughter Hannah, family, friends, and her beloved dog, Penny. Amanda's narrative, enriched by her passions for music, baking, and attending Hanson concerts, is not just personal catharsis but a mission to aid others facing similar losses.
[00:01:00 - 00:03:00] Introduction
Amanda recently wrote a memoir about losing her husband suddenly
She hopes to help others going through messy grief and loss
[00:03:00 - 00:09:00] Amanda's Inspiration for Writing Her Book
Amanda's husband passed away in 2019 after a turbulent marriage
She felt called to share her story of messy grief with others
Writing her memoir resurrected painful emotions and memories
The process was therapeutic despite being extremely challenging
[00:09:00 - 00:13:00] Releasing a Painful Story with Purpose
Amanda wanted to bring awareness to silent suffering
Her faith and desire to help gave courage to share openly
Painful memories resurface requiring continual forgiveness
She focuses on releasing hurt feelings toward her late husband
[00:13:00-00:19:00] Walking Through Grief Rather Than Bypassing It
It's important to process and feel our emotions
Suppressing feelings prolongs the grief journey
Amanda forced herself to keep showing up in her darkest days
She had to rely on loved ones despite disliking asking for help
Quotes:
"I felt like God just whispered in my heart, there might be other women like you or other men like you who have been in a similar situation and lost someone when life was messy." - Amanda Martin
"You have to be gentle with yourself and don't judge the negative feelings that you have just because you feel those emotions of anger or resentment." - Amanda Martin
Connect with Amanda:
Website: https://www.amandaelizabethmartin.com/
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