By Brooke Brighton/WMBD-TV
HOPEDALE – A Tazewell County woman is sharing her story to help others through the grieving process.
Sarah Nannen’s husband, Reid, was killed in 2014 when his fighter jet crashed during a training exercise.
“Grief is really a thing that can make you feel like you’ve been left for dead,” says Nannen, “that you’re just overwhelmed and consumed by it.”
But this isn’t where her life coach journey began. It wasn’t until one of Sarah’s friend asked her to help a newly widowed woman who lost her husband in a similar situation.
“Something in me felt really called,” says Nannen. “So I went and I had this really amazing, powerful conversation with this woman who, 24 hours earlier, found out that she had become a widow.”
It was then that Sarah knew she had to use her experience to help others.
“I know what this is like,” says Nannen. “I’ve been here. I know how hard this is. I know all of your fears. I’m happy to listen to you tell me about them.”
In order to share her story, Nannen wrote a book, Grief Unveiled: A Widow’s Guide to Navigating Your Journey in Life After Loss.
“There is this action that you can take that you can choose to really move through all of this with intention and with support so you don’t have to do it alone,” says Nannen.
And she doesn’t stop there. Sarah also acts as a life coach, helping widows of all backgrounds with their journey.
“They have the choice and they can take the responsibility for what happens next,” says Nannen. And it’s not an easy road, but it’s a lot easier if you do it with someone who’s been there and can show you the way.”
Ultimately, Sarah hopes that by sharing her story, she can help other widows come to a place of self-love and empowerment.
“They’re coming home to themselves and they’re saying, ‘Oh, here I am. This is who I am.’ And they’re choosing to write the rest of their stories,” says Nannen.
Sarah Nannen has also opened up her own place, Renkon Yoga Studio, as another outlet to help others deal with their thoughts and feelings.
Sarah Nannen can be reached on her website, griefunveiled.com or email her at [email protected].
