When AJ Coleman's wife was diagnosed with cancer while their daughter was just two months old, his life trajectory changed forever. Following his wife's passing, he found himself navigating the complex terrain of grief while simultaneously learning to be both mother and father to a young daughter who would never have her own memories of her mom.
AJ shares how the title of his book "Keep Those Feet Moving" emerged from an unexpected moment – choosing to take a different route home to avoid waiting for a freight train. This simple decision became a powerful metaphor for his approach to grief: no matter what challenges arise, forward movement is essential. "When you come to a stopping point and don't know where to go, that's when your thoughts catch up to you. As long as there's action behind your driving force, you can accomplish anything."
The discussion delves into the unique aspects of supporting a child through grief when they have no living memory of the person they've lost. AJ's transparency about difficult moments – like when his daughter was asked to make a Mother's Day card at preschool – illuminates the unexpected challenges grieving families face. His thoughtful approaches, from maintaining relationships with maternal grandparents to using careful terminology ("illness" instead of "sick"), offer valuable insights for anyone helping children navigate loss.
Perhaps most profound is AJ's perspective on transformation through grief. "Grief is a part of what you're going through, but it's not who you are," he reminds us. This distinction between experiencing grief and being defined by it provides a crucial framework for seeing beyond current pain toward future possibility. Through honest sharing and gentle humor, this episode validates the grief experience while offering genuine hope that by keeping those feet moving, we can forge meaningful lives that honor those we've lost.
Contact:
www.asiliveandgrieve.com
info@asiliveandgrieve.com
Facebook: As I Live and Grieve
Instagram: @asiliveandgrieve
YouTube: asiliveandgrieve
TikTok: @asiliveandgrieve
To Reach AJ:
www.keepthosefeetmoving.com
www.facebook.com/keepthosefeetmoving
www.instagram.com/keepthosefeetmoving/
Credits:
Music by Kevin MacLeod
Copyright 2020, by As I Live and Grieve
The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.
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