Hey there Reader,
Two Truths, One Life
I came across a photo the other day — my husband and our two younger sons in their kayaks, floating on the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Vancouver Island. The water is calm but moody, wrapped in that kind of soft grey light that the west coast holds so well. I took that photo just after the death of a dear friend. We had planned that trip long before, but the timing ended up falling in the middle of my grief.
Looking at that photo three years later, I realized something powerful.
It’s possible to hold two truths at once.
It’s possible to feel deep loss and deep love.
It’s possible to ache with sadness and still experience beauty, presence, even joy.
We don't talk about that enough — how often both can live side by side. The world tells us to be one thing at a time. Grieving or grateful. Happy or heartbroken. But real life, real healing, doesn’t work that way.
That ocean photo? It wasn’t sunlit and sparkling — it was foggy, quiet, textured. It perfectly matched how I felt inside. I was sitting in the middle of the storm and still able to witness the people I loved, paddling forward in front of me. Still able to notice that life was happening — and it was still beautiful.
This is the nature of being human. Grief and joy can exist in the same breath.
This reflection comes as I prepare to mark another big moment: tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary.
Twenty-five years of navigating all of it — the joy, the heartbreak, the ordinary, the extraordinary, and everything in between. Our life together has been the single most meaningful part of my story. It brought me family, growth, and the kind of connection that’s rooted in more than romance. It’s built on values. On commitment. On weathering the storm, not just waiting for the sunshine.
We’ve known struggle. Loss. Money worries. Health scares. Parenting challenges — including raising a special needs son who’s taught us more about patience and presence than any book ever could.
But what has carried us through — truly — is a shared belief that we’re better together than apart. That love is a choice we keep making. That relationships are made in the grey areas — not the perfect ones.
And that brings me full circle. Just like that foggy photo, life is layered. Complex. Not all good, not all bad. And when we can hold those complexities, not try to simplify them into something tidy, that’s when healing and transformation become possible.
What we have created.
The first photos is 2014 - a blended family of seven and then 2023 a family that has grown to include spouses and grandchildren.
💭 Three Coaching Reflections to Consider:
- Where in your life are you trying to be “just fine” when two conflicting truths might be trying to coexist?
- What photo, memory, or moment comes to mind that reminds you of both sorrow and joy? What is it asking you to remember?
- What values have carried you through the hardest times — and are you still living by them today?
🌿 Five Small Steps for Embracing Life’s Dualities:
- Pause to feel both: Don’t rush to reframe a hard moment. Let the sadness, joy, frustration, or gratitude sit beside one another without judgment.
- Name what’s true: Write down two truths you're holding today (e.g., “I feel heartbroken and hopeful”).
- Remember your anchors: Reflect on the people, practices, or values that help you stay steady when life feels unpredictable.
- Create a ritual of remembrance: Light a candle, look at an old photo, or speak someone’s name aloud to honour a loss while you move forward.
- Talk about the grey: Start a conversation with someone you trust about the complexities you’re holding — often that’s where connection deepens most.
Final Thought:
Wherever this newsletter finds you — in celebration, in grief, in transition, or in stillness — know that it is okay to hold it all. That complexity isn’t a problem. It’s all part of a full, deeply lived life.
Let yourself be changed by it. Let yourself grow through it. And when you're ready — reach out. You're not meant to do this alone.
P.S. Feeling the need for a reset?
I’m putting together an in-person (and possibly online) Mid-Year Reset Workshop this August — a chance to pause, reflect, and realign with what truly matters most.
You’ll walk away with clarity, a personalized action plan, and new energy to move forward — all while honoring your need for rest and self-care.
Interested? Hit reply and let me know — I’d love to hear what timing works best for you (daytime or evening).
With love
Marianne
Mindset & Transitions Coach | Marianne Preston Coaching
Staying Connected
As always Reader, if this has value for you drop me a line and please share this with anyone who you think may be interested.
If you are interested in subscribing to my newsletter and getting updates then hit the link below and you will get a free guide on "The 7 Steps to Banishing Burnout" as my thank you and you will be added to the list. Enjoy!