Bridging Connections with Bryan Reeves 160. When a Dream Dies: Healing Through Major Life Changes and Invisible Loss
Have you ever grieved something difficult to explain to others ... or to yourself? A dream you never got to live, a world you left behind after moving, a home you never got to call home, a relationship that never got off the ground?
In this powerful solo return, Bryan Reeves explores the deep emotional terrain of ambiguous loss: grief without closure, headlines, or a clear reason. From the loss of a dream wedding and the promise of parenthood to the emotional cost of eight moves in five years, Bryan shares personal stories and hard-earned insights on how to grieve the invisible, hold space for uncertainty, and honor your experience without needing it to make sense to anyone else.
If you're carrying sadness you can't fully name or explain, this episode will help you feel seen, and invite you to start healing.
⏱️ Highlights
00:00 – Why I Took a Break
01:32 – The Ireland Retreat That Changed Everything
03:20 – The Weight of Eight Moves in Five Years
04:45 – What Is Ambiguous Loss?
06:30 – Invisible Grief: Our Lost Wedding & Parenthood Dreams
08:15 – The House We Couldn't Live In
10:00 – Guilt, Grief, and Comparing Pain
12:05 – Grieving the End of a Day: A Malibu Story
14:00 – Why Some Grief Is Hard to Explain
15:25 – The Loneliness of Loss Without Witness
17:10 – Wisdom from Francis Weller on Communal Grief
19:40 – Moving In, Letting Go: A Nervous System Exhale
21:10 – Lessons From a Decade-Long Relationship
23:00 – Life Has Seasons—And That’s Okay
25:15 – Tiny Green Shoots: Signs of Spring After Long Winter
27:05 – New Beginnings: Retreats, Books, and Rebuilding
29:15 – Closing Reflection: You’re Not Broken for Feeling This
30:45 – Name Your Grief, Honor Its Place
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