Love, Loss and Living On

We all grow up with the hope of finding that special person - the one we can spend our days with, the one who “gets” us. Someone whose presence feels like home, where even the silences are filled with love and comfort.

My guest this week, Tony Stewart, shared the most moving story of his life with his beloved wife, Lynn. Their love story was not about grand gestures or big declarations - it was about the quiet, steady companionship they shared as they moved through life’s adventures together.

And then, as life often reminds us, everything changed.

When Lynn received her cancer diagnosis, Tony told me how they sat across from each other, holding hands across the table, and began to say out loud all the words of love they had carried inside them for years. Words that had always been there but had never felt urgent to speak.

It struck me deeply - how often we assume that our loved ones “just know” how we feel. And yet, when we speak those words aloud, they become anchors. They become something to hold onto, especially when time becomes fragile.

Tony expressed his love to Lynn not just through his actions, but through heartfelt words that she needed to hear. And Lynn gave him words in return - words that Tony now carries with him, memories that continue to guide him through his grief and into a new chapter of life.

Tony’s book, Carrying the Tiger, is a testament to this love story - not just about the joy of their life together, but the raw, honest reality of losing someone so deeply woven into your being. It is also about the strength it takes to continue living, to keep moving forward while carrying both the pain and the beauty of that love.

This conversation reminded me - and I hope it reminds you - to say the words that are in your heart today. To tell the people you love what they mean to you, not just in moments of crisis, but in the quiet, ordinary moments too.

You can listen to my full conversation with Tony on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast

I promise, it will touch your heart and maybe inspire you to pick up the phone, send a message, or simply look into the eyes of someone you love and tell them.

Because love - spoken aloud - truly matters. ❤️

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host

Why Connection May Be the Antidote to Rising Anxiety

Anxiety is something many of us are feeling more of these days - not just adults, but children too. And while it’s natural to want to “fix” the anxious feelings, more control isn’t always the answer. In fact, as Dr. Mary O’Kane beautifully explores in our latest podcast conversation, the medicine for anxiety may lie in something much simpler, though often harder to access in the moment: Connection

In this episode, Dr. Mary and I explore the delicate dance between anxiety and connection -and how safe, attuned relationships help soothe our nervous systems in ways nothing else can.

Here are some of the key themes we touched on:

The roots of anxiety in children (and how adults can unintentionally add to it).
Sometimes, in our efforts to protect, guide, or control, we unknowingly fuel the very fears we want to ease.

Connection as true medicine.
Whether it’s with a parent, teacher, or peer, the feeling of being seen, understood, and held is what allows anxiety to soften.

What co-regulation looks like in real life.
When we’re able to ground ourselves, even a little, we give children permission to do the same. This isn’t about being perfect, but about being present.

Becoming a safe space, even when you’re struggling too.
It starts with self-compassion. The calmer and kinder we are with ourselves, the more room we create for others to feel safe with us.

But as we talked, another truth emerged: the very systems our children are growing up in often make connection harder.

When Education Becomes Pressure

Our schools, though full of dedicated and compassionate teachers, are largely results-driven. Success is measured in grades, exams, and test scores. For some children this works, but for many, it creates an atmosphere where anxiety thrives. Teachers, too, feel the weight of expectations, caught between nurturing young minds and meeting performance targets.

The truth is, academia is not the only pathway to a meaningful life. Creativity, empathy, imagination, and resilience are just as vital - and yet they’re often undervalued in a system that prizes results over relationships. When children feel they must perform rather than be themselves, their sense of safety and connection suffers.

Imagine instead an education system that celebrates diverse gifts, one that gives space for curiosity, creativity, and connection to flourish. What might it look like if schools placed as much value on emotional well-being and creative expression as they do on exam results? These are the questions worth asking as we consider the future of education.

A Call Back to Connection

This conversation with Dr. Mary O’Kane reminds us that anxiety doesn’t need more control. What it needs - in our families, classrooms, and communities - is more connection.

If you’re a parent, teacher, or someone simply trying to navigate your own nervous system, may this episode be a gentle invitation to pause, breathe, and remember: you don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to show up, as you are, and offer presence.

Tune in to the conversation on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast with Dr. Mary O’Kane and discover why the path forward isn’t more control, but more connection.

Reflective Questions

Here are a few prompts to sit with after listening:

• As a parent, teacher, or caregiver, when do I notice myself reaching for control instead of offering connection?

• What helps me feel calm and grounded, so I can co-regulate with the children in my care?

• How do I see the current education system affecting the children (or adults) around me? What alternative ways of learning might allow more creativity and well-being to flourish?

• In my own life, where could I allow more space for imagination, play, and curiosity - instead of focusing solely on results?

  Sharon Fitzmaurice

  Holistic Wellness Coach, Author and Podcast Host