Maria Mojo Mondays: How to Navigate those WAVES of Grief

💛 Hey, Mindset Maverick!

This week was full of meaning. Last Monday marked the 5-year anniversary of my mom’s passing. And Tuesday was Dad’s Birthday (in heaven). 💜

On Monday, before my “Authenticity at Work: Ace the Interview with Color Code” webinar, I looked at a tiny chalkboard magnet my mom had kept from a student: “Mrs. Lesetz is a very special teacher.” I whispered, “This one is for you, Mom.” 😘

It felt like honoring her legacy and the teacher that’s always been innately in me. But that night? Something extraordinary happened.

💫 A Sign from Beyond

While my wife and I talked about clearing out my parents’ storage unit, something made us stop mid-sentence: a loud scratching at the terrace door. Yes, a scratching - it was SO weird!

We saw nothing… then a Shadow Darner dragonfly appeared, darting around the light before landing calmly on the screen. It stared. It stayed. It felt like Mom saying: “I’m here.”

The next morning, it perched under the bird feeder as if keeping watch. I thought: ok, last night was Mom, today — “Hey, Dad! Happy Birthday.” And then it flew away.

Dragonflies are symbols of transformation, resilience, and spiritual presence. That tiny creature? Pure comfort. Pure love.

💛 Real Talk: Grief Hits Deep

Grief is weird. It’s visceral. It hits in gut-level, soul-deep waves you can’t describe unless you’ve lived it.

When my mom passed, the tears weren’t just sadness — they were an entirely new physical and emotional experience. Crying spontaneously (in the middle of the night), feeling her absence in every corner of life, the smell of wildfire smoke outside the hospital… it all hit like a freight train. (Mom always said she was “unique” and did it in a big way - well, Mom - you “went out” during the first year of Covid AND the worst wildfires we ever experienced in the Pacific Northwest!) <== That’s my Mom for ya!)

I digress … let’s go back to those smells that are more than just a scent.

Some of the most unexpected comfort comes from sensory triggers. For me, it’s my mom’s ring jewelry box. It still smells like the perfume she used to wear in New York — Elizabeth Taylor’s Passion. When I inhale that scent, it floods me with memories: my Long Island childhood home, dinners together, our laughs. It’s wild how smells trigger memories — and when I need to feel connected with her, that box brings me pure comfort.

Everyone’s timeline, waves, and triggers are different. Grief is unpredictable.

✨ Coaching Tip: Allow the Waves

• Feel it fully. Cry. Shout. Let it all out. Your emotions are valid and your body knows what to do with them.

• Pivot to connection. Ask for signs. Look for them in birds, dragonflies, scents, numbers, or little everyday moments. Notice, photograph, honor them.

• Create a new relationship. Your loved one isn’t here in the same way, but love persists. Talk to them. Feel them. Listen.

Grief isn’t about forgetting. It’s about redefining the connection.

💡 Your Challenge:

Take a moment today to connect with a loved one who has passed. Ask for a sign. Look for it. Capture it. Feel the love. And remember: grief doesn’t have a deadline. The love doesn’t have an expiration date.

⚡ Maria Mojo Boost:

Grief is intense, raw, and sometimes overwhelming. But it’s also a pathway to deepening presence, gratitude, and resilience. Lean into it. Let it move through you. And trust: the people you love are still right there with you, in ways you can feel, see, and cherish.

🔥 Quick Maria Mojo Reminder:

Love never disappears. The connection never dies. Your grief is proof of love. And the signs? They’re little winks from the universe reminding you: You are never alone.

Wishing you strength, love, and a little sparkle today,
~ Maria Lesetz
Your Mindset & Resilience Coach

💛 P.S. Grief is deeply personal and sometimes heavy. If you’re navigating the loss of a loved one and want support, I’m here for you. Coaching can help you process, honor, and navigate grief in a healthy, empowering way.

📩 If you want to explore how coaching can support you in this journey, book a time on my calendar. Together, we’ll find ways to feel the connection, receive comfort, and move forward without losing yourself.