Arik Housley 
I had the privilege of sitting down with Kelsey, whose work as a death doula is both profound and inspiring. The way she supports individuals and their loved ones through life’s final journey is nothing short of remarkable. Her gift lies in being fully present—offering comfort, understanding, and compassion in moments that matter most. It’s … Read more
Grief comes in many forms. It doesn’t always stem from losing a loved one. It can come from losing a job you’ve poured yourself into, a business you’ve built, the college acceptance you dreamed about, or the end of a relationship. Grief shows up in many shapes and sizes. Do you feel comfortable talking about … Read more
Earlier this week, yet another shooting took place in Minnesota. More children died. As always, the responses online felt like two polar opposites. On one side, there was sadness, grief, and empathy—messages of thoughts and prayers. On the other, I saw posts on X (formerly Twitter) declaring it was all about the Second Amendment or … Read more
For more than 50 years, brothers Robert and Patrick McLaughlin lived without experiencing much unexpected grief. The passing of grandparents and great-grandparents felt natural, even expected. But just six months ago, everything changed. Patrick, the oldest of three, and Robert, the youngest, received the devastating call that their sister—the middle sibling—had passed suddenly in her … Read more
I’ve attended two memorials over the past six months—each honoring someone I deeply respected. The first was for a beloved professor from my time at Pepperdine University. The second was for a dear friend. What struck me at both services wasn’t just how they lived, but how intentionally they prepared for their passing. At Dr. … Read more
Indulge me for a moment—this post might feel a bit more philosophical than usual. My hope is simply to make you think. Many of you might remember a quote from the movie Letters to Juliet (2010), when Vanessa Redgrave’s character, Claire, reads a line from a letter that says: “‘What’ and ‘if’ are two words … Read more
I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend Kimberly Stevens, who I was introduced to through our mutual friend Jon Gordon. What a gift it was to hear her story of loss, hope, faith, and resilience. Kimberly is a natural storyteller, weaving meaning into even the smallest moments. In this conversation, we shared … Read more
As I get closer to finishing my book, Always November: Lessons in Loss, Love, and Resilience, I’ve been reflecting on where this journey leads next. Between the book and the podcast, I’ve found such a deep sense of purpose in helping others navigate their grief. One thing that’s been brought to my attention is the … Read more
How Has Grief Changed You? I’m looking for feedback from readers—your thoughts matter to me.Please feel free to reply in the comments or message me directly at arik@arikhousley.com. In what ways has your grief changed how you see the world, others, or yourself? Here are some possible responses—though yours may be entirely different: A. I … Read more
I try to avoid the mindless scroll of Instagram or Facebook, but every now and then, a powerful message finds its way into my feed. I don’t have to agree with every comment to take something meaningful from it. Recently, I came across an interview where Anderson Cooper was speaking with Stephen Colbert. For context: … Read more