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Today's Takeaway with Florine Mark


Sep 13, 2021

With Sarah Eldridge, WW Member

 

The feelings of grief and the toll it takes on our lives and emotions can be devastating. If we’re mourning the loss of a loved one, reeling from the end of a relationship or the loss of a job, the crushing feelings of sadness and loss can seem overwhelming. There are days it feels like we will never be happy again. What if, instead of giving in to those feelings, we could channel our grief in a positive way to do something really beneficial for ourselves or others? What if we were to use this as an opportunity to change ourselves and improve our lives in ways we could never imagine?

 

Today’s guest, Sarah Eldridge, lost her father in 2012 from complications from a serious fall. The life lessons that Sarah took away from that sudden loss motivated her to make positive changes in her own life.

 

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

  • Sarah tells us about what her father was like.
  • How her Dad’s death inspired her to make changes in her own life.
  • Did Sarah’s friends and family support her journey?
  • When did Sarah notice a change in herself?
  • What was Sarah’s biggest challenge?
  • What kind of self-care did Sarah do?
  • What does Sarah do differently, now that she’s lost weight?
  • What is some advice Sarah would give to people struggling?

 

Today’s Takeaway:

When we experience a devastating loss, it’s only natural to want to give in to our pain. But remember that the best way to move forward through our grief is to use it as a motivation. We can learn from the mistakes of others and avoid making those same mistakes ourselves. We can “direct our pain” to accomplish a meaningful goal. Just as Sarah demonstrated, sometimes an overwhelming emotion can provide the added strength and determination we need to succeed. When she committed to lose weight and begin her wellness journey, she was honoring her father’s memory with every pound she lost. By channeling our grief in positive ways, we might also inspire others in their quest by providing education or awareness. Or perhaps we can pay tribute and honor those we’ve lost. Out of great pain can sometimes come great beauty. Our losses don't have to define us. Instead, we can choose to let them inspire us. Remember that every day is a gift, and yesterday’s loss just might be the start of tomorrow’s beginning. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”

 

Quotes:

“My father was a man that, if you met him, you loved him.” — Sarah

 

“I did it for me. I did it for my own health and I did it because I wanted to love me more.” — Sarah

 

“It really gave me the courage to kind of branch out.” — Sarah

Brought to You By:

Florine Mark

Mentioned in This Episode:

Florine Mark