Life has a way of throwing us into seasons we never expected—seasons of loss, grief, and hardship that test us in ways we never imagined. Navigating loss while focusing on your health can feel like an impossible task.

I asked my dear friend and longtime client, Jaime, to share how she’s managed to stay grounded in her health, mindset, and faith while walking through unimaginable loss.

Get to know Jaime

Jaime is 48. She’s been married to her husband for 26 years and they’ve raised 4 children together and just had a grandchild. She is a teacher and her husband is a pastor.

I asked Jaime why she initially reached out for help from me with her health. She explained that she always struggled with her weight. Her father was substantially overweight and so was his dad so she came from a long line of obesity. At the time she reached out, there were several factors in her life that just felt “out of control” and she felt desperate to put something back in order.

Her brother was recently diagnosed with leukemia and her father was battling ALS. All this happened on the heels of other personal dark times with her son.

What was the hardest part of navigating loss while trying to show up for herself?

Jaime explained that when you go through a long season of grief, struggle, or hard, you start to fel weak ro whiny. And to her, being strong or self-sufficient is an idol. When you’re weary of yourself you just know that others must be weary of you too. You’re too much. You’re too complicated. So you stop sharing. 

A lot of the struggle was hidden away. In all this grief there was also life. Jaime says in all this there was still so much good. She still had a good thriving life – not just a surviving life – a life worth fighting for.

She found great peace in looking for all the light that shines through the cracks. Usually these are the good things we see when we look back over a hard time we’ve come through. She tries to look intentionally for these things while in the hard time. Like looking for a light in the darkness.

How has Jaime continued to make the decision to take care of herself?

Whatever life she’s given, she wants to FEEL GOOD! She wants to be able to play with her grandsons, run with them, and hike with her husband. To her, she wants to age well!

The truth is we often have to “take ourselves in hand” spiritually – we have to preach the gospel to our hearts when we start to believe lies. Your physical health deserves the same intentionality. Take yourself in hand – you can do that with kindness!

If you could go back and encourage yourself at the beginning of this journey, what would you say?

Do the work – you’re worth it and you will be grateful. If life is great – great- do the work. If life is hard – that’s ok – do the work. You’re worth fighting for. 

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