Grief And Joy Can Coexist

A stranger told us we looked “too happy” to be grieving our son, and that offhand comment cracked open a much bigger conversation: who decides what grief should look like, and why do we treat joy as betrayal after loss? We open the door to our real process—private tears, unexpected waves, quiet days, and the slow return to things that make us feel alive.

We talk about parenting four kids while holding absence, choosing fewer commitments to protect our energy, then carefully rebuilding a life with more light in it. Alex shares how positive psychology and present-moment awareness helped him move from rumination to action, while Giselle reflects on finding steadiness through beliefs that release regret and honor meaning, including insights from The Power of Now and Your Soul’s Plan. Together we explore the spectrum of emotion—how fully feeling sadness expands our capacity for joy—and why doing what we love can be a faithful way to love our son out loud.

This conversation is for anyone navigating bereavement, parenting through heartbreak, or renegotiating identity after a life-shifting loss. We offer practical anchors: control what you can, let presence soften what you can’t, and notice the rituals that refill your cup. We share how we model to our children that grief is seasonal, not permanent, and that love remains the loudest force in a room full of loss. If you’ve ever felt judged for laughing again, or guilty for smiling at the sun, this is a reminder that healing isn’t a performance—it’s a practice.