Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1542457
Expand your offerings safely with Advanced Esthetics Insurance at ascpskincare.com 81 GET T Y IMAGES But grief isn't a wall, it's a bridge. Each new experience becomes a step toward healing. You can honor your loved one by living fully, by embracing the adventures they would have wanted for you. New experiences remind us that we are still capable of growth and discovery. I started a small art project with my esthetics students—something creative and joyful—and it reignited my passion for teaching. That spark helped me reconnect with my purpose, rather than dwell in my pain. Yes, sometimes grief still sneaks in. I once cried in the middle of a Disneyland gift shop. I felt embarrassed until a stranger handed me a tissue and smiled. It reminded me that compassion exists everywhere. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS Loss changes relationships. Some people step closer, others fade. It can feel like a second loss when friends or family don't show up the way you hoped. However, grief has a way of clarifying who belongs in your next chapter. Focus on the people who check in—the ones who sit with you through silence, who make you laugh when you forget how. These people help you rebuild. I am grateful for my family and friends who continue to show up daily. These relationships have reminded me that love doesn't disappear—it transforms. As estheticians, we know the power of human connection. It's what makes our work meaningful. Nurturing healthy relationships outside of work helps sustain that emotional energy we bring to our clients. It also reminds us we don't have to carry everything alone. LIVING FORWARD Grief changes you in ways you never expect. It makes you softer and stronger all at once. It teaches patience, empathy, and humility—qualities that deepen not only who we are as people but who we are as professionals. Some days are harder than others. There are still mornings when I wake up and feel the emptiness next to me. On those days, I hear Rob's voice saying, "Keep your head up. Don't let what you can't control steal your joy. Go live." Life after loss is not about moving on. It's about moving forward. It's about living in a way that honors the person you lost and the person you are becoming. Taking care of yourself allows you to keep doing the work you love with authenticity and compassion. When you're experiencing grief, self-care is about awareness, boundaries, and grace. It's about allowing yourself to be human. The best version of yourself—the one your clients, students, and loved ones need—emerges when you care for yourself first. So, say no when you need to. Cry when you must. Accept help. Forgive others. Find joy in the small things. And above all, keep living forward—with grace, gratitude, and the quiet strength that comes from surviving a loss.