On March 31st, in NYC, I was honored to be chosen to give a TEDx Talk, at Adelphi University. My talk was about how we, as a society, need to change the conversation about grief and loss and death, and change the way we treat both the people we love who have died, AND those that are left behind to miss and grieve them. The talk was performed live in front of an audience of about 400, and also was live-streamed on the internet all over the world. The response was insanely amazing and instant, to the live talk. For the past month and a half, I have been patiently (impatiently) waiting for the green light from the TED corporate people, to release my talk into the internet, and be able to finally share it all over social media. Well, my release date was Wednesday, and so it is now out there for the world to see, online, where it will remain forever. 

In just under 2 days, the YouTube video of my talk already has 10,000 views and counting. Over one thousand people have shared it on Facebook, and the numbers are growing larger and wider. People are telling me their stories. Stories of loss and hope and frustration and grief and pain. People are sharing with me, in private messages and emails, because I shared with them. People are proving that what I said in my talk is true – Love Grows Love. 

My husband’s death almost 6 years ago now, has been something that continues to change me and make my life different, every single day. I wish it didnt happen. I wish he was here. I will always, always wish that. I will always miss him and want him here with me. But he isnt here. And no matter how much I wish for that, it wont ever happen. So, I choose to make his life a legacy, and to remember him and love him, by living life forward, and by using my own life to do my part in changing the world however I can. I want for people such as myself, who lose their very world in a split second, to not have to put up with people telling them to move on or to get over it. I want that language to change, and Im going to do whatever I can to help make that happen. Even if it takes years. Or decades. Or forever. Because I believe it is THAT important, and I believe that the people we love who have died, deserve better. And so do we. 

Here is my TEDx Talk. Please share the link like wildfire, until we learn to tell each other’s stories, forever. Thank you.