TW: Loss

In this episode, I am sharing the impact of grief on my life, how it has left me feeling, and how it has shifted my routines, emotions, and even my relationship with food. I’ll also discuss why it’s essential to give ourselves grace and adjust our expectations during these tough times. 

If you’re going through something similar or just need a supportive space, this episode is for you!

Pop-Pop: The Legacy and The Laughs

Let me start by saying it’s been exactly one month since my grandfather passed. My Pop-Pop was 93 years old, and oh boy, did he live life fully—right until the very end, cracking jokes and keeping us all on our toes.

This man was a LEGEND: six kids, 20 grandkids, and 15 great-grandkids. Yes, you heard that right—20 grandkids! How did he even remember all our names?! To say he left a legacy would be a gross understatement. And, personally, he and I were super close. We had this bond that went beyond words.

Pop-Pop was always the life of the party, and his stories could have you laughing for days. I mean, who else at 93 is still cracking jokes? Legend status, am I right?

Feeling Untethered: The Grief That Follows

When my grandfather passed, it was like I lost my anchor. One of my friends put it so well when she described losing her grandmother—she said she felt “untethered.” The moment she said that word, I was in tears because, yes, that’s exactly how I’ve felt. Floating. Lost. Untethered.

I know we all go through loss, and the way we handle grief is different for each of us. For some, it might involve eating ice cream straight from the tub while binge-watching Netflix (no judgment here!). For others, it might be retreating from food altogether. Either way, there’s no “right” way to move through it, just your way.

The Food and Grief Connection: Spoiler Alert, It’s Not About Guilt

A lot of people in the Food Freedom Society have shared similar experiences—grief throwing their usual food habits into chaos. Let me just say this: when you’re grieving, it’s NOT the time to expect yourself to stick to your old habits. Your body, your mind, your entire world is different during this time. Trying to force yourself into old routines? Trust me, it won’t work, and it’ll only lead to guilt, shame, and frustration.

So, what should you do? Two words: Do. Less. For real.

Rubber Balls vs. Glass Balls: The Ultimate Life Hack

One of the best metaphors I ever heard is about juggling balls. In life, we’re always juggling a million things—work, parenting, self-care, gym schedules, you name it. But some balls are rubber, and some are glass. If you drop the rubber ones, they’ll bounce back up. No harm done. But if you drop the glass ones, they shatter.

In this season of life, exercise was my rubber ball. If I didn’t make it to the gym, no biggie. It would bounce back eventually. But feeding my kids? Yeah, that’s a glass ball. Gotta keep that one in the air. No matter what season of life you’re in, figuring out which balls are rubber and which are glass is key.

Giving Yourself Grace: A Major Key

I had a day recently where I was supposed to get a ton of work done. Spoiler alert: I got none of it done. Instead, I went for a walk, listened to old voicemails from Pop-Pop, and just let myself BE. And you know what? That was okay. I didn’t beat myself up for not sticking to the plan because, guess what? Life doesn’t always go as planned.

Give yourself grace in those moments. If you’re grieving, feeling untethered, or just plain exhausted, let yourself off the hook. Let the rubber balls drop. They’ll bounce back.

Closing Thoughts: Doing the Best You Can

As we wrap up, I want to remind you that everyone is just doing the best they can, every single day. What you see on social media is a highlight reel, not real life. So give yourself some grace, show yourself compassion, and figure out which balls are rubber and which are glass. And no matter what season you’re in, it’s okay to just do the best you can with what you’ve got.

Follow me for daily tips on Instagram! @kellylwellness

Are you ready to stop overeating and finally be in control around food? Watch my FREE training How to Stop Binge Eating (Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Foods) to learn how it’s possible!