Grief doesn’t follow neat timelines – and it doesn’t mean something’s wrong with you if it still shows up years later.

Whether it’s been a decade or just a season, grief can return in a song, a memory, a smell, or even a YouTube clip that catches you off guard. That ache isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of what mattered.

In this short reflection, we explore why grief that lingers is part of love that lasts. You’ll hear a gentle reminder that:

If you’ve ever thought, “I should be over this by now,” this is your permission slip to stop trying to fix it.

It’s okay if it still aches.

It’s okay if you’re still carrying it.

What if the moment you learned who you really are changed everything?

Leyla King grew up in a vibrant family surrounded by food, faith, and love, but she did not have the language or clarity to name her Palestinian identity. In this episode, Leyla shares how a high school film screening shifted everything, leading her to reclaim her heritage, record her grandmother’s stories, and write Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations.

This conversation explores the power of generational storytelling, the intersection of faith and culture, and the deep responsibility of telling stories that were nearly lost.

You’ll hear about:

• Discovering her Palestinian identity as a teenager

• Recording her grandmother’s oral history in 2002

• How passing as white shaped her understanding of privilege

• The role of faith in survival, resilience, and storytelling

• Why she’s sharing her family’s truth with the world now

Guest Bio:

Leyla K. King is a Palestinian American Episcopal priest and the author of Daughters of Palestine. She’s a founding member of Palestinian Anglicans and Clergy Allies and serves as the Canon for Mission in Small Congregations for the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas.

More from Leyla:

Website: thankfulpriest.com

Book info & essays: thankfulpriest.com

Groups: palestiniananglicans.org, smallchurchesbigimpact.org

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Chantal Watts joins me again to dive into what’s changed since her first appearance on The Life Shift podcast. We get real about the impact of sharing her story, especially how it resonated with her former teacher and classmates.

Chantal reflects on the healing power of being open about her past and how it helped her connect with those who once knew her. It's all about the significance of vulnerability and how our stories can touch others, creating community and support. This bonus episode is a reminder that sharing isn’t just about us; it’s about the connections we forge along the way.

I’m excited to share bonus episodes from Patreon, where I revisited past guests to discuss what has changed and the value of sharing their stories. Since I currently only have the lower tiers available, I wanted to make these conversations accessible to the public feed. If you'd like to support the show directly, please consider joining the $3 or $5 tier on Patreon – www.patreon.com/thelifeshiftpodcast.