Debbie R. Weiss | Finding Strength in Struggle: Weight Loss, Widowhood, & Wisdom

Grieving Voices

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In this episode of Grieving Voices, we welcome the remarkable Debbie Weiss, a life strategist who has spent over five decades helping others while overcoming her own daunting life challenges.
As an author and podcaster, she offers hope and motivation to many through her memoir "On Second Thought, Maybe I Can" and as a contributing author in "Heart Whispers."
Key Points:
- At age 50, Debbie experienced what she describes as midlife awareness rather than a crisis.
- She reflects on becoming the primary caregiver for her father after his stroke at just 46 years old — a role that lasted thirty years.
- The pivotal moment came during a girls' trip when she was 50, where she realized how much of herself was lost in caregiving roles.
- Her journey involved tackling weight loss by changing her mindset about food and diets to embrace it as part of a sustainable lifestyle change.
- Secrets have a way of holding us back, as Debbie encountered and later moved through.
- Being a caregiver for most of one's life and in different roles has taught Debbie the importance of not caring for others except all else, including self-care. As a caregiving daughter, then as a wife to her terminally ill husband, Garrett, and mother of a son who struggles with mental health challenges, she now advocates for those who've given their lives to caregiving or otherwise and are ready to empower themselves.
Takeaways:
Debbie underscores the importance of self-care amidst responsibilities. She emphasizes that mindset is key — changing habits and reframing thoughts towards oneself and one’s goals.
Tune into this powerful conversation full of raw emotion, resilience, insights into mental health struggles within families, and navigating grief after losing loved ones.
RESOURCES:

• Book | On second thought...maybe i can!
• Collaborative Book | Heart Whispers: Stories of Women Listening to Their Innate Wisdom and Designing a Life They Love
• Kelly Clarkson Appearance
• A Sprinkle of Hearts Online Shop
• Episode Sponsor: Magic Mind | Use the code "GRIEVINGVOICES" to receive 20% off

CONNECT:

• Website

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.
Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.