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 mid-50s from a heart episode.
Since then, grief has continued to touch their lives. In Robert’s workplace, three colleagues have passed away since May, the most recent only weeks ago. Alongside his personal loss, he has also carried the responsibility of leading a team of nearly 300 through their own experiences of grief.
Patrick has channeled his loss into writing. His first book, The Bear Facts of Life; How my dog taught me how to live, was inspired by the death of his beloved dog, and his upcoming release, The Power of Being Present, launches this October. Check out his information and website Dr. Pat McLaughlin
If you are navigating grief yourself, I hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topics I cover. I’m continually looking for new guests and stories of resilience, loss, and love to share.
