What This Is Not

Let me be clear about what you're getting here and what you're not.

I'm not a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional. I'm not a lawyer, accountant, financial advisor, or estate planning expert. I don't have training in grief counseling, psychology, or any other field that might seem relevant to what we're talking about.

What I am is someone who lost his mom 17 years ago and his dad six years ago, and has been figuring out how to live with that ever since. Everything I share comes from that experience - my own messy, imperfect journey through loss and the stuff that comes after.

This newsletter isn't therapy, and it's not professional advice of any kind. I don't know your specific situation, your family dynamics, your financial circumstances, or your mental health needs. What worked for me might not work for you. What didn't work for me might be exactly what you need.

If you're dealing with thoughts of self-harm, severe depression, or anything that feels like a crisis, please talk to a professional. Seriously. There are people trained to help with that stuff, and I'm not one of them.

If you need legal advice about estates, wills, or inheritance, talk to a lawyer. If you need financial guidance, talk to a financial advisor. If you're struggling with your mental health, talk to a therapist or counselor.

What I can offer is honesty about what this experience has been like for me, some observations about things that helped or didn't help, and the occasional story that might make you feel less alone in whatever you're going through.

I hope that's useful. But please don't mistake it for professional guidance, because it's not.

Take care of yourself. Get help when you need it. And remember that my experience is just one person's experience - yours will be different, and that's exactly as it should be.