What happens when you spend your whole life taking care of others—and forget who you are? In this deeply moving conversation, Brian Smith talks with Debbie Weiss, a woman who’s worn many hats: caregiver, business owner, author, and now, a voice of possibility and hope. Debbie shares her incredible journey of caring for her father, her neurodivergent son, and her husband through terminal illness and mental health struggles.
She opens up about anticipatory grief, the complexity of feeling both relief and guilt, and how writing her memoir On Second Thought, Maybe I Can during her husband’s final days became an emotional lifeline. 💡
If you’ve ever felt stuck, invisible, or unsure how to move forward—this episode is for you.
🧭 What We Cover in This Episode:
- Why caregiving often starts before the loss occurs (anticipatory grief)
- The weight of caregiving as a daughter, spouse, and parent
- How Debbie found herself at 50—and reclaimed her life
- The emotional power of writing through grief ✍️
- How to shift from victim mindset to possibility mindset
- Why self-care isn’t selfish—especially for caregivers 💗
- Creating “A Sprinkle of Hearts”—and what hearts symbolize to Debbie
- Dating after loss: why there’s no right timeline
💬 Favorite Quotes:
“Living is stepping out of your comfort zone—even when you're afraid.” – Debbie Weiss
“Self-care is not selfish. It's essential for survival.”
“I thought I was being buried. But I was being planted.” – Brian Smith
🔗 Connect With Debbie Weiss:
🌐 Website: https://www.debbierweiss.com
🛍️ Shop: https://www.asprinkleofhearts.com
📚 Books on Amazon:
- On Second Thought, Maybe I Can
- The Sprinkle Effect
- Heart Whispers (Co-author)
🎧 Podcast: Maybe I Can
🧠 Reflection Prompt:
Have you ever felt like you lost yourself in caregiving or grief?
What’s one small thing you could try—just for you—this week?
Share your answer in our Facebook group:
👉
This deck is a labor of love. It's a 44 card oracle deck that's about connecting you to your loved one in spirit. The deck comes with a companion digital guide that gives you an affirmation, a reflection, and an activity for the day.
Check it out at https://stan.store/grief2growth/p/oracle-deck
You can send me a text by clicking the link at the top of the show notes. Use fanmail to:
1.) Ask questions.
2.) Suggest future guests/topics.
3.) Provide feedback
Can't wait to hear from you!
I've been studying Near Death Experiences for many years now. I am 100% convinced they are real. In this short, free ebook, I not only explain why I believe NDEs are real, I share some of the universal secrets brought back by people who have had them.
https://www.grief2growth.com/ndelessons
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