REPLAY: The Grief of Blindness and the Role of Grit and Gratitude

Thoughts or comments? Send us a text! A nine-year-old hears the words “you will lose your sight,” but no one can tell her when. Laura Bratton lived in that uncertainty for years, then watched her vision change rapidly through high school until only limited light perception remained. What stays with me most is how honest she is about the emotional cost: denial that turns into grief, anxiety about the future, and the quiet exhaustion of trying to look “fine” while falling apart inside.  We get into the kind of grief many people don’t know how to name. Laura explains non-death loss and why losing a sense, a marriage, a job, or a version of your life can bring real mourning that doesn’t follow a neat timeline. We also talk about anger and the pressure, especially for women, to perform positivity. Her redefinition of grit is the grounding takeaway: not “grin and bear it,” but validate your feelings and still choose one more step forward, even while you’re angry or scared.  Laura also offers a practical, realistic approach to gratitude that doesn’t sugarcoat trauma. Gratitude, for her, means noticing what helps you navigate the hard thing: support systems, tools, mentors, and small moments of relief. From learning to ask for help to advocating for her needs in a demanding academic program, she shows how resilience becomes a daily skill set, not a personality trait you either have or don’t.  If you’re coping with vision loss, disability, chronic illness, major change, or ongoing grief, press play and take what you need. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s carrying a heavy load, and leave a review so more listeners can find these stories. Support the show BUY ME A COFFEE or SUPPORT ALFIE'S TREAT STASH Learn more about my book, Nature Knows: Grow and Thrive through the Wisdom of Plants HERE. Comments about this episode? Suggestions for a future episode? Email me directly at [email protected].  Want to be a guest on No Shrinking Violets Podcast for Women? Send Mary Rothwell a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/noshrinkingviolets Follow me on Facebook and Instagram, and check out my website!