Befriending Grief: Why She's Your Guide, Not Your Enemy – Dr. Jamie Eaddy

Grief Out Loud

How do we move from seeing grief as something to fix or overcome, to understanding it as a lifelong companion and guide? In this conversation with Rev. Dr. Jamie Eaddy CT, CTP - educator, death doula, founder of Thoughtful Transitions, and creative force behind The Ratchet Grief Project® - she invites us to reimagine grief as a friend who helps us navigate loss, change, and transition. Drawing from her personal lineage of grief through the deaths of her grandmother, cousin, and uncle, Dr. J. shares how these experiences shaped her work supporting individuals and communities, especially those living at the intersections of marginalization and oppression.

We explore:

• How personal experiences with family deaths shaped Dr. Eaddy's career path
• Redefining grief beyond death - as our natural response to loss, change, transition, unmet expectations, unrealized dreams, and shattered assumptions
• The concept of "befriending grief" - viewing grief as a companion and guide rather than something to overcome
• The Ratchet Grief Project® - creating space for marginalized communities to grieve authentically without conforming to restrictive societal expectations
• How racism, sexism, and systemic oppression create additional layers of grief for Black communities
• The harmful expectations of "acceptable" grief
• Current trends in grief work, including the rise of death doulas and increased awareness of non-death losses
• Unlearning narratives around strength, silence, and emotional suppression
• The importance of reclaiming parts of ourselves - like joy - that get left behind in survival

To learn more:

1. Follow Dr. J. @drjamieeaddy on IG.
2. Visit Thoughtful Transitions
3. Stay tuned for The Ratchet Grief Project coming Fall, 2025