When All Is Good
Appreciating the season I'm in
Do you ever have those moments when you stop and pause and realize that everything’s going well? For me, I don’t always stop and notice either way — the good or the bad. But something clicked the other day and I realized at this moment, all the things in my life were good. It was a reminder to slow down and really take it in, because these moments don’t always last, especially in today’s world.
This week brought me (and Julie) back out on deliveries. We went to Glenville and Delmar to deliver bikes — a bit of hope and spring in the middle of what has been a frigid winter. At Isaiah’s house, the cold weather didn’t stop him. He promptly got his coat and helmet and hopped on his new bike, with his sister and mother cheering him on. At Harper’s house, the weather prevented her from getting out just yet, but she was so excited to check out and sit on her brand new pink Rifton bike.
These deliveries were made possible by our longtime supporters at Adirondack Trust Company. This year they are supporting our Adaptive Equipment Fund, which is truly at the heart of what JHFH does.
In all things A Place of Yes — we dropped our final episode of Season 3. While I’m truly touched by everyone I spoke to this season, something about this last episode really resonated. Elizabeth Klug is in the same club I’m in — the dead kid club — but times two. It’s not often in this club that I find someone who faces it quite as head-on as she does (and how I try to). The conversation was honest, bold, even raw at times — but 100% real — and I didn’t want it to end. If you haven’t listened yet, please do.
We’ll have a short break before we drop Season 4, so it’s a great time to catch up on all we did in Season 3. We talked to dads: Chuck Allen, Jeff Brisbin, Jim LaBate, Kim “Rooster” Rossiter, and of course, Brian Straughter.
We talked to a brother: Austin Wolfe.
We talked to those who have lost a parent(s): Carrie Pill, Jordan Sondler, Kelly Daugherty, Rebecca Feinglos, and Chelsea Ohlemiller.
We talked to a veterinarian about pet loss: Anja Wurm.
And always mothers: Elizabeth Klug, Marie Crews — and a short solo episode with myself.
Last week, I was back on my red recording couch! We already have four episodes recorded, and I can’t wait to share them with you. I’m talking with others in their grief journeys and sharing their stories, and we’re focusing on how to keep living, how to keep showing up, and how to find our way back to joy.
And personally, I’m still soaking in the time I just spent with my people. Ethan was home for Chowderfest and the Super Bowl, along with Leah, and joined Steve, Mouse and Rob for all the shenanigans and all the fun. These days together mean more than ever, especially since so much of my work and time focuses on just how fleeting life can be.
And through it all, Jake reminds me he is near. Sometimes the reminders are hard — the number of shows we watch where the main characters experience child loss alwats takes my breath away. There have been two more since the last edition of this newsletter. And this time, while watching The Rip, we learn about the loss of a character’s 10-year-old son — and you guessed it — his name was Jake.
A reminder that he’s still woven into everything.
XO
Heather