This episode of Nurah Speaks is a deeply personal reflection on love, loss and what I've learned from grief.

In Episode 260, “Losing Ellen,” I chronicle the story of losing my grandmother, Ellen, and walk listeners through my experience before and after her passing along with what grief has revealed to me along the way.

Losing my grandmother was an excruciating loss—filled with agony and heartbreak—but also with moments of profound love and deep gratitude. Those who have accompanied a loved one through their final days understand this painful irony: the trauma of loss co-occurring with all the beautiful, tender and loving moments just before.

On Nurah Speaks, we do not shy away from life's hard but important truths. Death can arrive in a single moment or it can unfold slowly through a series of moments of months or even years.

How we manage death— the acceptance of it as a normal part of life—can help us survive the very, very lows while honoring the love that remains.

This episode is for anyone navigating grief, learning how to carry the love that remains and discovering who they are now, after loss.

If you watch the live recording of this episode on the Nurah Speaks Youtube channel, I include some of my favorite photos of my grandmother with friends and family.

WHEN GREAT TREES FALL

Maya Angelou

When great trees fall,

rocks on distant hills shudder,

lions hunker down

in tall grasses,

and even elephants

lumber after safety.

When great trees fall

in forests,

small things recoil into silence,

their senses

eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die,

the air around us becomes

light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly.

Our eyes, briefly,

see with

a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened,

examines,

gnaws on kind words

unsaid,

promised walks

never taken.

Great souls die and

our reality, bound to

them, takes leave of us.

Our souls,

dependent upon their

nurture,

now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed

and informed by their

radiance,

fall away.

We are not so much maddened

as reduced to the unutterable ignorance

of dark, cold

caves.

And when great souls die,

after a period peace blooms,

slowly and always

irregularly. Spaces fill

with a kind of

soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never

to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be

better. For they existed.

For more information on grief, I included two helpful links below:

•https://grief.com/the-five-stages-of-grief/•https://grief.com/10-best-worst-things-to-say-to-someone-in-grief/

If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com. Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.

You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Episode 259 features an excerpt of Dr. King’s Sermon ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’.

While Dr. King is most commonly known as a leader within the Civil Rights Movement, it is important to remember that Dr. King was a pastor and concerned with the moral fiber of his people.

In ‘Unfulfilled Dreams’ King speaks on the substance of our hearts, our character and inclination to good, though our goals are unattained. And while we are often judged and unjustly criticized in our effort to establish truth and justice, the desire for good in our heart is a virtue and blessing.

If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com. Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.

You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In this episode, I reflect on my experience running for elected office and share key lessons learned from the journey. While the outcome wasn’t a win at the ballot box, the experience reinforced that the work of service never stops.

Before running for office, there are important questions that must be clearly defined and questions I confronted prior to running:

Why – Why are you running, and what qualifies you to serve?

I was already serving my community, and elected office offered a way to broaden my impact. I ran to serve—not for a title or personal gain.

Who – Who will support you, challenge you and vote for you?

I was supported by a small, committed team that stayed focused on purpose rather than political negativity. Strategic relationships built during the campaign strengthened both the effort and our community.

How – How will you run and represent yourself?

Introducing myself to voters required sharing my story—beginning with my grandmother, whose example of service shaped my foundation. I chose to run a positive campaign rooted in integrity, regardless of oppositional, misleading or ugly tactics. I believe the people deserve more- and I do too.

What – What are you truly running for?

Understanding the office and examining whether you are running to give or to achieve personal gain is essential.

When – Is the timing right for you, your family and the people you seek to serve? Running for office requires careful consideration of time and readiness.

This episode is shared for anyone who may one day consider running for office. Public service is about sincerity, integrity, and service to others. And for me, despite the outcome, The Work Continues!

If you would like to engage with the podcast, submit your listener questions to info@NurahSpeaks.com. Listeners can also learn more by visiting NurahSpeaks.com.

You can follow Nurah Speaks on X, Instagram and Facebook @NurahSpeaks and subscribe to the channel on YouTube.

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!