I Am Closed - Part 1 #empathyforgrief - Break the Silent Struggle With Grief

Many are still closed in 2021

I am Closed. Not really, but this is Debra Hester. Welcome to Mother's Backyard Buzz and #empathyforgrief and loss episode, 18 entitled, "I Am Closed." How many times have we seen closed in 2020? Who thought these ones would be a phrase of global importance due to small and large business closures? Because of COVID-19. I did a Google search on the term. I am closed and got 5.81 billion results in 59 seconds through Google search engine, based on the search results.

I can not say it's a unique phrase, but here we are talking about being closed due to COVID-19 for the second time in 2020, I'm here to talk about what happens when we close off from each other emotionally and physically when we are grieving. Do you believe I am closed, works to our advantage. When we struggle in silence from grief and loss? As with all my episodes, I'll focus on breaking the silence, struggle around grief and loss.

Podcasting since 2018

My podcasts are based on my personal grief and loss journey and reflections from my book, My Backyard Garden, A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief. I'm reflecting on Chapter One of my book entitled, "A Change of Planes." I have about three more podcasts that I'll produce from this chapter and I'll move on to Chapter Two intensive care.

My book is a quick read and is designed for continued reflection. For those of us who are on this life, changing grief and loss journey, or know someone who is. We want to show people who grieve more empathy than sympathy, or as I like to say, show yourself and others, #empathyforgrief and loss.

Loved ones, I love my new interview podcast format. I had planned to add interviews periodically, but the universe started sending me such great and inspiring people. They are people who are like you and me who have gone through challenges and made it to the other side with some insights to share.

Meet My Guest

I met my guest that we're going to hear from today through a virtual meeting. Actually, I have to thank a mutual friend of ours for the introduction. She lives in Atlanta. My guest lives in Detroit and I live in Memphis, Tennessee, Metro area. She didn't let distance stop her. That alone is a topic for another podcast. But back to my guest, his name is Dr. Billy Taylor. He has a very inspiring story that will highlight this episode's issue, I am closed.

Based on Billy Taylor's story and documentary, he was closed. He was closed for good reason though, in his senior year at the University of Michigan, as he began his transition to pro football, he lost his mother, uncle, and girlfriend. All four of his loved ones were lost suddenly and tragically over his senior year in college. Do you think he was closed? You'd better believe he was so stay tuned for this interview with Dr. Billy Taylor.

Dr. Billy Taylor Was Closed

Yes. Touchdown Billy Taylor, as he is called by the University of Michigan fans. He was a former pro football running back and currently a successful businessman, motivational speaker, and the author of Get Back Up, The Billy Taylor Story, Dr. Billy Taylor was born in Hoxie, Arkansas. And I love that because that is my home state too. Dr. Taylor is going to share his life story so much better than I can. So as always loved ones, I hope you find this interview with Dr. Billy Taylor as part of episode number 18, "I Am Closed, "helpful and inspirational.

Debra Hester: Basically welcome! The podcast is all about breaking the silence, struggle with grief and loss now with COVID-19. And one of the things with this particular episode is about "I am closed." I know you wrote your book, Get Back Up, and what we'd like to hear is why were you closed? What happened? Why did you close yourself off from your family, your coaches, your friends, you had such a great career.

Dr. Billy Taylor: A lot of people handle grief differently. That as well as the fact that was, you know, 19 years old when my mom passed being the youngest of seven, and I lost my dad when I was five years old. And so I really didn't get to know him, but my mom was my everything, all through my K through 12 years and into college. And I had set these goals that when I was in middle school, I wanted to get a doctorate degree one day like that of Dr. Martin Luther King, which of course meant attending college. And then I wanted to play college and professional football. With that, with the money I earned, I was going to purchase a new home from my mom and just take care of her. Cause I'm the youngest of seven. And I know how hard she worked, you know, raising ...