Today we're releasing the first in a new series of interludes called Between the Words, A collection of short, intentional interludes that may include journal prompts, meditations or a thought to carry through the day.
Today we are encouraging you to write a letter to your loved one. And if you feel moved to share it with us, please head out to our website and submit your letter:
Sometimes the words we can't say out loud find their way onto the page - and just maybe to a listener who needs to hear it today.
[00:00:00] Hi everyone, this is Angela Sturm. Welcome to Beyond Goodbye. If this is your first time listening, we're glad you're here. If you listened before, welcome back. Today's episode marks the first in a series we're introducing in 2025, a collection of short, intentional interludes we're calling Between the Words.
[00:00:29] These episodes are moments to pause, reflect, and gently reconnect. Each interlude may hold something a little different. A journal prompt to explore, a meditation to ground you, a thought to carry through the day. Not full conversations, just small offerings. But before we begin, we want to take a moment to acknowledge that this podcast is recorded on the traditional and ancestral lands of the Dakota people,
[00:00:56] who have stewarded this land for generations. We honor their ongoing connection to this place and express gratitude. Today, I want us to do something that may seem simple, but it's powerful. And I'm not going to lie, it's hard, really hard. Writing to someone you lost, a letter to your loved one. Whether you are new to grief, living forward with loss, or just trying to make a sense of the world you've been thrust into.
[00:01:26] Writing, journaling can help us hold the heavy. I journal every day, guys. It helps, really does. You do not have to be a writer. You don't need to have the perfect words, because honestly, are there any, really? You simply show up as you are, to a blank page that's eagerly waiting to hold your story. A place for your thoughts, your memories, your fear and anger, your love. A place to reconnect with yourself.
[00:01:55] And you know what? If you're not in a space where you can write to your loved one yet, that's okay. Then maybe write to the part of you that's still learning how to live in this new normal. The part of you that carries questions without answers. To help you get started, I have a couple suggested prompts, but they're just suggestions, simply guides. And you can take them wherever your heart leads. Let these questions be a soft entry point into your thoughts and your feelings.
[00:02:23] You might try something with, since you've been gone, I, or what I wish I could say to you today is. If you'd rather begin writing a letter to yourself, then try, I know you're caring a lot right now. Or, here is how I'm holding myself these days. But really the key is to just start writing. You might be amazed at what eventually unfolds on the page, even when you don't know where to begin.
[00:02:51] And maybe, just maybe, after you've written your letter, you feel called to share it with our listeners. We'd love to hear from you. Your words hold power and healing. Your words, our words, are medicine. We promise to honor your sacred story by listening with open hearts. And sometimes, we are the loved one who needs that letter. But know that whatever you choose, whether you keep it to yourself or let it be known,
[00:03:21] your words matter. They really do. So give yourself some quiet time. Grab a notebook, the back of a napkin, an envelope, anything. And let's begin.