From Grieving to Thriving

Empowering widows to create a new life filled with happiness, abundance, and purpose.

At Grieving to Thriving, I understand the challenges faced by widows, widowers and surviving partners.

My mission is to share my journey and, in so doing, guide your journey, helping you to create a new life without your life partner - a life of peace, joy, and abundance.

I believe that although we can never forget our person or get over our loss, we can still live a contented life where we thrive alongside our grief.

By joining my community, you will have access to resources and support and learn how to create your "new me".

Empowering widows to create a new life filled with happiness, abundance, and purpose.

Vision Statement

Mission Statement

To create a compassionate world where no one has to navigate grief alone, empowering the bereaved to find healing, resilience, and hope through meaningful resources and shared experiences.

To provide guided journals, digital downloads, and heartfelt support that inspire and nurture the bereaved as they journey through loss. By sharing my story and creating tools for healing, I aim to help others honour their grief, rediscover their purpose, and build a fulfilling life after loss.

About Me

Hi, I’m Mo—a Kiwi girl rediscovering herself amidst the picturesque charm of rural France after a life-altering loss in 2021.

My journey as an expat began in 2007 when I arrived in Al Ain, a small city nestled in the heart of the Arabian Desert in the United Arab Emirates. I embraced the role of a “trailing spouse,” wholeheartedly supporting my husband, B, as he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming an international architect. B was a visionary in his field, contributing to some of the UAE’s most iconic projects and earning widespread recognition for his expertise.

While B shaped skylines, I managed our lives in a foreign land, transforming challenges into adventures. Over our eleven years in the UAE, we made travel our shared passion, seizing every opportunity to explore the world from our base at the crossroads of continents. Travel wasn’t just a pastime—it became our gift to each other and the thread that wove our story.

When our UAE chapter ended, we embarked on a new adventure: housesitting our way around the globe while building an online business that allowed us to work from anywhere.

Sadly this adventure was shortlived when I became a widow in 2021.

This gallery of pictures represents a tiny piece of our last twelve years together, from a happy couple loving life to a new widow recreating herself alongside her grief.

In 2021, I lost my beloved husband, best friend, and soul mate, B, to cancer. We had been together since our teenage years, building a life filled with love, adventure, and shared dreams. For years, we travelled the world as long-term ex-pats, embracing the freedom of working remotely and exploring new cultures.

Our latest adventure brought us to France, where we dreamed of creating a digital nomad lifestyle while immersing ourselves in the beauty of Europe. After six weeks of housesitting, we stumbled upon a charming 350-year-old village house that instantly captured our hearts. It felt like the perfect base for our future travels and a place to create new memories together.

But life had other plans. B was diagnosed with cancer, and our world was turned upside down. The shock of his diagnosis was compounded by the global pandemic, which magnified our challenges. Despite everything, we held onto hope, but B’s journey ended far too soon.

The past three years have been a profound and transformative experience. I have navigated the depths of grief, learned how to rebuild when it felt impossible, and slowly discovered new meaning and purpose in my life. Though the road has been arduous, I am ready to embrace the next chapter—a new and fulfilling life.

As part of my healing, I am dedicated to helping and supporting other widows, widowers, and surviving partners navigating the same difficult path. Through my story, I hope to provide guidance, hope, and inspiration, reminding others that even in the face of immense loss, it’s possible to find a way forward and create a life filled with purpose and joy again.

How We Became Me

The Dragonfly Story

The dragonfly holds deep significance in the grief world, symbolising transformation, resilience, and the enduring connection between the physical and spiritual realms. With its ability to move gracefully across the water and through the air, the dragonfly is often seen as a messenger, representing loved ones who have passed on but remain close in spirit.

In many cultures, the dragonfly embodies change and adaptability, mirroring the personal growth and shifts often accompanying the grieving process. Its fleeting presence reminds us to embrace the present moment, honour our memories, and find beauty even in the face of loss. For those navigating grief, the dragonfly can be a gentle sign of hope, renewal, and the eternal bond shared with those we have loved and lost. Please read about my connection to the dragonfly in my blog Embracing Signs: A Widow's Journey from Grief to Hope.