Good news, bad news, and more good news
Week of April 6, 2025
Good News
A local nonprofit just opened its doors this spring with a mission to help grieving families in the Western New York area! The WNY Compassion Connection has many programs and offerings that come at no cost to those who need them. This has been such a huge need for our area, and I’m grateful to be able to offer them as a resource to anyone grieving the loss of someone they love and looking for additional peer support. I enjoy sharing all the resources I’m aware of with my program participants so they have many options for support to choose from.
Bad News
I was hoping to be able to say that we had enough people for both the in-person and virtual program sessions to begin Tuesday of this week, but unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Registration closed on April 4th with only two people fully registered. This is the second session in a row that was unable to run due to not enough participants.
Sometimes the universe creates roadblocks and detours to guide us into different directions, and over the years I’ve learned to listen, and flow like water. I’ve been facilitating ten-week Widowed Support Program sessions successfully since 2022, and while they have been incredibly rewarding, it has not been easy while simultaneously attending grad school, obtaining certification in grief counseling, raising kids as a solo parent, running a household and a coaching business, and managing a chronic illness. While I fully intended to continue the Widowed Support Program while working towards licensure as a therapist, it has required increasingly more and more effort to get engagement than it takes to actually run the program. Therefore, in an attempt to create more balance and sustainability, I have made the difficult decision to pause sessions indefinitely. The comfort of knowing there’s an amazing organization right around the corner that will provide vital peer support to those who need it will help me feel less like I’m letting anyone down.
More Good News
One big hurdle towards obtaining licensure is passing the licensing exam, and I am so incredibly grateful to be able to say that happened last week!! The next step is to accrue 3,000 hours of supervised therapy which will take approximately two years. At the rate I’m going, it might take a little longer- we’ll see. Since the program sessions aren’t happening this spring, this will allow me to invest more time and energy towards this goal and obtain additional trainings.
In the spirit of full transparency, I want to address the $460 raised through voluntarily paid blog subscriptions intended for program registration assistance. As I prepare to pause the Widowed Support Program, it's important to honor your intentions behind this generosity. I'll be reaching out to the blog’s four paid subscribers individually within the next week to ensure that their contributions are directed according to their preferences during the program’s hiatus. Your trust and support have been invaluable, and I'm committed to handling this transition with the same integrity that has guided my work and this community from the beginning. I do plan to keep the paid registration option open and continue with the Mala drawings and other benefits that accompany paid subscriptions.
Weekly Affirmation
“I am aligned with my higher purpose and trust its loving guidance.”
“I am connected to the universe and its divine wisdom.”
“I am loved, guided, supported, and protected.”
Thank you for being here. <3
