Hope is Dope: Grief, Growth, and Extraordinary Parents, with Larry Carlat

When Larry Carlat's 28-year-old son Rob died by suicide six years ago, Larry never imagined it would lead him to find his life's calling as a grief counselor, or to become, in his words, "the Pied Piper of psychedelics for grieving parents"

In this raw and surprisingly hopeful conversation, Larry shares insights from his new book A Space in the Heart about what it means to be part of what he calls "the world's cruelest club" and how bereaved parents develop unexpected superpowers. From his transformation from skeptical New Yorker to spiritual seeker, to his radical take on what grieving people actually need (hint: it's not your words), to his belief that those we've lost are still with connecting us from the other side, Larry offers a refreshingly honest guide to life after devastating loss. As he puts it, we may all have spaces in our hearts that never close - but they can be filled again with purpose, love, and meaning. And, as his son Rob would say, "hope is dope."

Key Takeaways:

• The best thing you can do for someone who's grieving? Skip the words and start with a hug
• You can stay connected to someone you've lost without staying connected to the pain
• Extraordinary parents are everywhere - they're your neighbors, coworkers, the quiet couple at the next table
• Healing doesn't mean "getting over it" - it means learning to integrate loss into your life in a way that allows both grief and joy to coexist
• Sometimes the most powerful transformations come through unexpected paths 
• While the space in your heart may never close, it can be filled again with new purpose, love, and meaning

Learn more about Larry:

Read Larry's blog
Get the book

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Music credit: Limitless by Bells