What Learning to Swim Taught Us About Grief — with Cori Myka | GRIEF Ladies Ep. 25
what-learning-to-swim-taught-us-about-grief-cori-myka
What could learning to swim possibly have to do with grief?
More than you'd think.
In Episode 25 of GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next, we welcomed Cori Myka, founder of Calm Within Adult Swim, and the conversation took
a turn we didn't expect — in the best possible way.
Fear. Overwhelm. Not Knowing What Comes Next.
Cori works with adults who are terrified of the water. And as she started describing what her clients experience — the fear, the overwhelm,
the pressure to get it right — we couldn't help but notice how much it sounded like grief.
Because grief puts you in a whole new world too. One where you don't know the rules, you don't know what's coming, and everyone around you
seems to expect you to just figure it out.
Cori shared a powerful framework for slowing all of that down — and it turns out it works whether you're standing at the edge of a pool or
standing at the edge of a whole new life without someone you love.
The Takeaway You Can Try Right Now
One of our favorite moments in this episode was when Cori shared a simple, practical tool you can use anywhere — in a meeting, in a grocery
store line, at a family gathering — when a grief wave hits and you need to come back to yourself.
It's small. It's tangible. And it just might help.
You'll have to listen to get the full details. 🎧
Plus — Cori Shares Something Personal
We also asked Cori how she celebrates those who have died in her own life. Her answer was beautiful, unexpected, and something that stuck
with us long after we stopped recording.
Listen to Episode 25 here: https://youtu.be/aiLqrtJuFI8
Connect with Cori:
📲 @CalmWithinAdultSwim
Have you ever found an unexpected connection between something in your life and your grief? Tell us in the comments of the video — we'd love to hear it.
Still Celebrating Them: How 5 Guests Honor Those Who Have Died
Still Celebrating Them: How 5 Guests Honor Those Who Have Died
Grief doesn't end the love. And for so many of us, it doesn't end the celebrating either.
One of the questions I get asked most in the grief community is — is it okay to still celebrate someone who has died? Their birthday. Their
favorite holiday. The little everyday moments that used to belong to them.
The answer is yes. Absolutely, beautifully, yes.
And on GRIEF Ladies: A Guide to What Comes Next, five of our incredible guests showed us exactly how they do it.
This Topic Is Deeply Personal to Me
I recently contributed Chapter 17 to The Ultimate Guide to Self-Healing, Volume 6 — a collaborative project with Brave Healer Productions. My chapter is titled Celebrate Their Life: Focusing on Gratitude, Connection, and What Still Remains.
In it, I share my own grief story. My mom died when I was 14. In November 2024, my dad died too. And learning to stay connected to them changed everything about how I experience grief. The chapter explores how grief and gratitude can coexist — and how honoring the life of someone we love can soften grief without any pressure to move on or let go.
"Grief doesn't ask us to let go of our loved ones — it invites us to find new ways to carry them forward."
I also created a meditation to go alongside the chapter. If you're looking for a gentle place to start, this is it. 💛
▶️ Watch the meditation here: https://youtu.be/ionQT1zRMAE?si=_WNsz0kdodVf-W_8
Check out the Ultimate Guide to Self Healing - Volume 6 at: https://a.co/d/03Wuh0hm
What Does It Mean to Celebrate Those Who Have Died?
Celebrating those who have died looks different for everyone. For some it's a ritual — lighting a candle, cooking their favorite meal, visiting a special place. For others it's showing up to their birthday with balloons and tears and laughter all at once. There is no right way.
There is only your way.
What I've learned from hosting GRIEF Ladies is that the people who find ways to keep celebrating those who have died often find it to be one of the most healing parts of their grief journey. Not because it makes the pain go away — but because it keeps the connection alive.
5 Guests. 5 Ways of Still Celebrating Them.
In this special highlights video, I pulled clips from five recent episodes where each guest shared how they continue to honor and celebrate those who have died.
💛 Featured guests:
- Kelly Myerson (Ep. 22)
- Kat Farace (Ep. 23)
- Charlotte Shuber (Ep. 24)
- Cori Myka (Ep. 25)
- April Hannah (Ep. 26)
Each of these guests brought something so real and so personal to their episode. Watching their clips together in one video is a reminder that grief is not one size fits all — and neither is celebrating those we love who have died.
Watch the Video
▶️ https://youtu.be/qEnbe_t6t3M
I hope this video gives you permission — if you needed it — to keep celebrating. To keep marking the days. To keep saying their name.
If any of these guests' stories resonated with you, I'd love for you to watch their full episodes. You can find them all linked below.
🎙️ Full Episodes:
- Kelly Myerson — Episode 22: https://youtu.be/Oj5HF0xuHhU?si=MU5oBHHuILkhZt6
- Kat Farace — Episode 23: https://youtu.be/xRevq_ZcDYo?si=9Pl3DTUQXpJa20Ww
- Charlotte Shuber — Episode 24: https://youtu.be/5OEe88S1Sk4?si=ZhPOnLbf6OJr0BXN
- Cori Myka — Episode 25: https://youtu.be/aiLqrtJuFI8?si=PuS0JThk4BY43s1m
- April Hannah — Episode 26: https://youtu.be/bTayMPCvKYY?si=gMWPaAyvhobg_VJH
Tell Me — How Do You Celebrate?
How do you celebrate those who have died in your life? Drop it in the comments on the video. This community always shows up for each other, and I know your answer might be exactly what someone else needed to read today.
And if you're not already part of our GRIEF Ladies Facebook community, come join us. It's one of the most real, supportive spaces on the
internet for people navigating grief. 👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Ak735EmTo/