Life, Loss, Grief, Composting, Life, Loss, Grief, Composting, Life… This is the ongoing, cyclical spiral that encapsulates my understanding of transformation, both personally and professionally. In the wake of profound losses alongside seismic changes in the wider world, I have found myself moving through these phases again and again, around and around.

I go about my life… I experience a loss….I become overwhelmed with Grief… over time I find ways of settling into and being alongside the horrifying mess, from which seeds of new life can emerge. What powers this cycle? My sense is that it is Love. Love in its widest, purest, simplest form. The energy of life and the universe, perhaps.

Within this cycle of loss and renewal, another rhythm exists—one that speaks to our innate human drive to make meaning and contribute. Learn, Create, Contribute, Let Go, Learn, Create, Contribute, Let Go, Learn…. Each phase of this cycle offers an invitation: stay curious, shape something new, share it generously, and release attachment when the time comes. It is a framework that not only complements the cycle of loss but sustains it, ensuring that growth emerges from the compost of our experiences.

In my work, these cycles intertwine seamlessly. In Grief coaching, clients learn to be with, to be alongside, to move with their loss and grief, finding ways to honour what was and step into what might yet be. In leadership coaching, I witness individuals and organisations navigating necessary endings, daring to create anew, and learning to let go with grace and forgiveness. In climate coaching, these cycles provide a way to engage with immense challenges while staying resilient and impactful.

Embracing these regenerative cycles has required deep, intentional living. They have given me a way to move forward in my life with integrity, to build a professional life that honours my personal experiences, and to support others in doing the same.

These cycles remind us that death, loss and grief are not endpoints. Instead, they are a vital phase of the full cycle of life, essential ingredients for life to flow, grow and glow. They teach us that every ending carries the seed of a new beginning, and that if we can stay open to love, life and learning, we can continue to transform, again and again.