I wanted to reach out and give you an update, since so many have been checking in on me and asking how I'm doing.

I truly appreciate that.

​
It's been a little over four months since we lost Shelli and honestly I think I'm doing about as well as one could possibly be doing.

People say grief isn't linear but I can tell you it's a hell of a lot better now than it was in the first month, better than the second month, and even a little better than just a few weeks ago.

I think a big part of that comes down to how you think about the person who's gone.

I've had clients who lost their spouses years ago.

One lost his wife to cancer 12 years ago, another lost her husband six or seven years ago, and when they came to see me they were still pretty heavily stuck in their grief.

I believe the mental tools I've developed over the years from helping other people are helping me now.

I also believe it doesn't honor the person you've lost to be sad perpetually.

I don't think it would make Shelli any happier, wherever she is, to see me crying every day for the next 10 years.

If you loved someone and you believe they loved you then that person would want you to be happy.

So for me, being happy is honoring Shelli.

That's not forgetting her.

I remember her every day and I still have moments of sadness, some small, some bigger.

But I told her years ago that if something ever happened to me I'd want her to be sad for a little while and then move on and be happy.

I was completely sincere about that.

Why would you want someone you love to suffer forever?

Some people carry profound survivor's guilt after losing a loved one.

They feel that being sad somehow honors the person and that finding happiness again would dishonor them.

I just don't believe that.

So I'm putting everything I've got, mentally and emotionally, into living as normal and joyful a life as I possibly can, which is exactly what I would want Shelli to do if the situation were reversed.

My spiritual beliefs have also been a source of peace.

I've gone through periods of being religious and not being religious but I've settled into a place where I genuinely believe Shelli's soul continues.

She exists as a consciousness in a place we can't see and I believe she's at peace, enlightened, and surrounded by love.

As sad as I am not to have her here, that thought brings me real comfort.

And I believe we'll be reunited someday.

Our souls will meet again.

Perspective helps too.

Shelli had 49 years.

That's very short and I wish she could have been here with me for a few more decades.

But on the spectrum of all time, thousands of years of human history, billions of years of Earth's existence, the difference between 49 years and 80 years is a blip.

I'm going to blink and I'll be 60, 70… 80 if I'm lucky.

And then it'll be my turn.

That might sound heavy but it's actually a form of gratitude.

Shelli wasn't one of those kids who died of leukemia at eight.

She wasn't killed in a war before she was old enough to know who she was.

She had 49 years full of joy, hugs, love, travel, good food, and laughter.

All the things one could possibly want in this life.

Remembering that makes me feel better because it's real.

On a practical level the basics matter too.

I'm making sure I get enough sleep, not drinking too much, trying to eat healthy.

I meditate almost every day and do my self-hypnosis, which always leaves me feeling more peaceful.

Seeing friends, getting outside the house, and exercising all help.

I've just started going back to the gym.

As for Sienna, man, this kid is something else.

She's just trucking along, living her life, and it's not fake.

She's authentically, genuinely doing well.

Shelli and I must have done a really good job raising her because she's got such a level head on her shoulders.

So if you cared enough to ask about us… thank you… so much.

I've never experienced this much love in my life from people who know me closely, people who barely know me, and people who don't know me at all.

I sincerely appreciate every message and every check-in.

We're doing really well.

I'll share more with you again soon.

But for now I just wanted you to know... we're good.

With gratitude,
Sean

P.S. Given our home life these past few months I decided, last year, to postpone the next Hypnosis Certification cohort to April 2026.

I’m grateful for the folks who signed up last year and agreed to wait patiently for things to settle down.

This is good news for you, in any case, if you’ve ever considered learning hypnosis, whether to help yourself or to help others.

Maybe you like the idea of using hypnosis to help people and want to turn it into a side hustle.

Maybe you want to learn new skills to overcome challenges in your own life.

Whatever your motivations we’ve got a few spots open at the upcoming certification.

And if you’d like to join us I’ve set aside some time next week to have a friendly chat about your decision.

No pushy sales tactics, that’s not how I roll.

We’ll just have an honest conversation about your goals and decide together whether joining the certification program is perfect for you.

If it is, I’ll invite you to sign up.

And if it isn’t, that’s OK too.

​But it all starts with a conversation.

If you'd like to know more about the program before talking to me, read this (some of the details might need updating but you'll get all the essentials.)