Today we’d like to introduce you to Tricia Thirey.
Tricia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Early in 2017, I felt the Lord impressed on me that I was supposed to live a life of joy. My husband and I had suffered from years of infertility, he was facing brain cancer for the third time in 4 years, and we had three kids 5 and under. From the outside, our life looked anything but good. But the desire to show those around us, my kids especially, that we do not have to let our circumstances determine our attitude was strong. I leaned into faith and friends and living a life of gratitude leading up to losing my husband in 2017. Following the loss, my kids and I had to learn a new rhythm. Life without the one who held us all together was challenging to say the least. But in the midst of that heartache, I began to share my story: the lessons learned through grief and loss and the importance of running after gratitude and joy with everything we’ve got.
My kids and I moved to the DFW area for a fresh start, and I started working with widows and writing and speaking about my story. How God can turn our tragedies into our triumphs and how the greatest losses shape us into who we are today.
I’m currently an ambassador for Hope Widows, a Grief Recovery Specialist, and a speaker who desires to share the impact that having hope has on our perspectives about life! That no matter what you are facing in life, there is hope in something more!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Losing my husband, my encourager, my confidante has reshaped who I am in so many ways. I have learned to parent alone without the support of a spouse. I have learned to take care of a household while working full-time and parenting. And I have had to learn who I am in light of loss. Grief and loss change you. You can’t lose something/someone without it reshaping who you are. And I love sharing with people how much the storm can refine us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a writer and a speaker. I enjoy sharing what I have learned (and am learning) on this journey with anyone and everyone who listens. I love reminding people of the hope that they have in Christ and that there is redemption no matter what.
I am educator by training. I have a doctorate in Educational Leadership and teach teachers, but my greatest passion is in teaching others the importance of having hope and joy. That living a life of gratitude really does impact your life and the life of those around you.
I also work with widows through my job with Hope Media Network. I am an Ambassador for Hope*Widows and strive to show widows that is possible to truly flourish and thrive again after loss.
I’ve been there. I have been in the pit and found my way out. I know that we never get over loss, that it will always be there. But I also know from experience that we can pick ourselves up and move forward after the greatest tragedies.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would say I am a risk-taker. I love to travel and take my kids on adventures. They are 11, 11, & 9 now, and we have traveled to 45 states and 7 different countries. We have zip-lined, we have rappelled, and canyonered and we have embraced the challenges that have come along with being a single-parent family. And I think most days; we rock it. I think that being brave, and a risk taker doesn’t just mean jumping off bridges but facing your fears head-on and jumping into something new with both feet, even when everyone tells you that you shouldn’t!
Pricing:
- One-on-one grief and loss recovery classes start at $500
- Group recovery classes start at $399
- Speaking engagements start at $200
- Enrollment in Hope Widows with weekly teaching starts at $29 a month
Contact Info:
- Website: www.choosingjoyineverymoment.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/choosingjoyineverymoment
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/choosingjoyineverymoment
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tricia-thirey
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@choosingjoyineverymoment
- Other: www.hopewidows.com
