Brutally Anna - Episode Summary: "The Language of Grief" Featuring Ashley LeMieux
Release Date: March 24, 2025
Introduction and Guest Overview
In this emotionally charged episode of Brutally Anna, host Anna Kai welcomes Ashley LeMieux, a grief expert who has transformed her personal tragedy into a beacon of hope for others. Ashley shares her profound journey of loss, healing, and self-discovery, offering invaluable insights into navigating the tumultuous waters of grief.
Ashley’s Personal Grief Journey
Ashley begins by recounting the heart-wrenching loss of her unborn son, Jace, to sepsis four years prior. She vividly describes the terrifying night in the ER, where she battled a severe infection while simultaneously dealing with a heartbreaking pregnancy loss.
[04:43] Ashley LeMieux: "What happened three years prior to losing my son was when I felt like all was lost for me. Getting pregnant again was a step of faith, trusting that life still held good things for us."
Anna connects deeply with Ashley’s story, sharing her own recent loss of her grandfather and the intense emotions that surfaced unexpectedly.
[00:00] Anna Kai: "I had the most horrific dream last night that my dad suddenly had a heart attack and died. It felt so real and left me traumatized."
Understanding Grief
The conversation delves into the nature of grief, challenging the conventional notion that grief is something to "get over." Instead, Ashley emphasizes that grief is an ongoing experience that shapes us.
[10:27] Ashley LeMieux: "Grief is something to be experienced. It changes us and allows us to carry our grief differently over time. It's the price we pay for love."
She highlights the importance of acknowledging and embracing grief rather than attempting to suppress it, fostering a healthier relationship with loss.
Healing and Clarity Mapping
Ashley introduces her innovative approach to healing through a process called Clarity Mapping, which she developed to help individuals navigate the fog that often accompanies grief.
[12:50] Ashley LeMieux: "Healing isn't one big moment. It's consistent movement forward, making small steps day by day that lead to bigger choices and continued healing."
Clarity Mapping assists individuals in redefining their identities post-loss, allowing them to embrace who they are now and envision a hopeful future.
Faith and Spirituality in Healing
A significant portion of the episode explores the role of faith in the healing process. Both Anna and Ashley share their evolving relationships with faith and spirituality, especially in the context of profound loss.
[34:09] Ashley LeMieux: "My faith was deconstructed after my loss. I don't consider myself religious anymore, but I am very spiritual. My relationship with God became more intuitive and intentional."
They discuss how grief can catalyze a reevaluation of spiritual beliefs, leading to a more personal and less dogmatic understanding of faith.
Impact on Relationships
The episode also examines how grief impacts personal relationships, particularly marriages. Ashley shares her and her husband Mike’s journey through loss, emphasizing the necessity of intentional communication and understanding each other’s grief languages.
[50:18] Ashley LeMieux: "Grief is a new language that must be learned. Learning each other’s grief languages allows us to support one another effectively."
Anna echoes the challenges couples face, particularly highlighting the high rates of divorce following the loss of a child and the critical role that communication plays in sustaining a relationship through grief.
The Language of Grief
Ashley introduces the concept of "grief languages," akin to love languages, which describe the different ways individuals process and express their grief. Understanding these can bridge the communication gap between grieving partners.
[47:46] Ashley LeMieux: "Grief is a new language that must be learned. Learning your individual language of grief and how to communicate it with your partner is essential for mutual support."
This framework provides a practical tool for couples to navigate their differing grief responses, fostering empathy and connection.
Personal Growth and Overcoming Rejection
The discussion culminates in Ashley’s inspiring story of resilience following professional rejection. Despite a significant setback when a publishing house declined her book proposal, Ashley chose to self-publish, leading to unexpected success and personal empowerment.
[82:25] Ashley LeMieux: "After my book was rejected, I wrote and self-published it anyway. It became a bestseller, proving to myself that I didn't need external validation to achieve my dreams."
This narrative underscores the theme that rejection can be a catalyst for reinvention and growth, aligning perfectly with the podcast’s overarching message of finding beauty amidst brutality.
Conclusion and Takeaways
Throughout the episode, Ashley LeMieux and Anna Kai offer a heartfelt exploration of grief, resilience, and the transformative power of embracing loss. Key takeaways include:
- Grief as an Ongoing Process: Acceptance that grief doesn’t have a set timeline and continues to evolve.
- Clarity Mapping: A structured approach to rediscovering oneself post-loss.
- Faith and Spirituality: Personalizing one’s spiritual beliefs as a source of strength.
- Grief Languages in Relationships: Enhancing communication and support between partners.
- Resilience Through Rejection: Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and self-validation.
Notable Quotes:
- Anna Kai [00:00]: "Life can be beautiful even when it's freaking brutal."
- Ashley LeMieux [10:27]: "Grief is the price we pay for love."
- Ashley LeMieux [34:09]: "I'm a very spiritual person without the box of what I thought spirituality had to fit inside of."
- Ashley LeMieux [82:25]: "I can do it either way. And that has really helped me keep moving everything that I'm working on forward."
- Anna Kai [76:08]: "You don't need to wait to start living. You don't need to wait till she's 10. You can just do it now."
Final Thoughts
This episode of Brutally Anna serves as a powerful reminder that through understanding, communication, and personal growth, one can navigate even the most profound losses. Ashley LeMieux’s journey offers hope and practical strategies for anyone grappling with grief, making this episode a must-listen for those seeking solace and inspiration.
Connect with Ashley LeMieux:
- Instagram: @AshleyKLemieux
- Podcast: Healing Her (Available on all major podcast platforms)
- Books: Bestselling titles available for purchase [link if available]
Stay Connected:
Follow Anna Kai on social media (@maybeboth) and subscribe to Brutally Anna on your favorite podcast platform to catch new episodes every Monday.