The Doctor Said “Spank Him”
The Green Car and the Long Road Back
How Kristina Amelong Turned Grief Into Purpose
When Kristina Amelong was seventeen, her 13-year-old brother, Jay, was struck by a green car – the exact detail he’d eerily predicted months before his death. The loss shattered her world and sent her into years of addiction, shame, and silence. Decades later, one question: who else knew your brother? became the key that reopened her heart and helped her rediscover connection through story, writing, and healing.
🎧 Listen on https://www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/s4e223
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We talked about what happens when grief freezes time, how shame can keep us quiet for decades, and how sharing one story can start a ripple of healing for everyone involved. Kristina’s story isn’t just about loss. Her story is about what comes next when you finally decide to face it.
Value-Driven Storytelling – LIVE Event
Join me and Angela Hollowell (Honey & Hustle) as we discuss our lived experiences as podcast hosts, sharing vulnerable, value-driven stories. LIVE on December 18 at 6 p.m. ET.
THREE things to think about
Silence protects pain – but it also preserves it. Speaking our stories can be the start of healing.
Healing isn’t a single moment; it’s a long conversation between your past and your present.
Sometimes, the people we meet decades later are part of our unfinished story from before.
TWO things to ask yourself
What story from your past still feels “frozen” inside you – and who might help you thaw it?
When was the last time you allowed yourself to cry without trying to fix it?
ONE thing to try this week
Write one paragraph about something you’ve never said out loud. Don’t edit it. Don’t share it. Just read it back to yourself and notice what feels different.
If Kristina’s story resonates with you, listen to her full episode or reply to this email and share what it brought up for you.
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I created a short-form podcast, “It’s Okay If…” Each episode is under three minutes long and provides a permission slip to be human. I’d be honored if you subscribed to the show. New episodes are released every Wednesday at noon ET.
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