If you’ve ever wondered how loss can open the door to unexpected purpose, episode 400 of the Grief and Happiness podcast is for you. Artist and author Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez shares how caring for her husband through his final days—and facing the grief that followed—sparked a powerful new creative chapter. From unexpected signs on the beach to the healing pull of art and animals, Marcie shows how even deep sorrow can guide you toward meaning and renewal.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(01:07) Rebuilding life through art, friends, and horses

(01:57) How horses create emotional breakthroughs in grief

(03:45) The equine-therapy moment that unlocked years of tears

(06:13) Why art helps access and heal deeper emotions

(07:41) The dream, the meeting, and the love story that changed everything

(16:06) How a 46-year age difference led to a joyful, adventurous marriage

(23:00) The sacred lessons she learned while caregiving

(26:06) The beach signs that continue to comfort her

(27:10) How grief opened the door to her strongest creative work yet

Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez is an artist, author, and storyteller whose work explores love, loss, and transformation. After the passing of her husband Adrian, she stepped more fully into her creative path, developing a body of artwork that reflects deep emotional truth. Her paintings have been featured in exhibitions across New Jersey, and her memoir shares the remarkable love story and spiritual journey that shaped her life. Marcie continues to inspire others through her art, writing, and the meaningful connections she builds around grief and healing.

In this episode, Marcie reflects on the profound impact of her 20–year marriage and the ways grief opened new doors to healing. She shares how reconnecting with horses offered unexpected comfort, emotional release, and a grounding presence during mourning, and how her art became a powerful way to access and process her feelings. Marcie also recounts the extraordinary way she met and married Adrian, their life of adventure and unconditional love, and the sacred experience of caregiving at the end of his life. Her insights highlight how creativity, animals, spiritual signs, and continued bonds can gently guide us forward after loss.

Connect with Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez:

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Book: Marcie Shrewsbury Lopez - A PLACE OF PROMISE

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The Grief and Happiness Alliance

Book: Emily Thiroux Threatt - Loving and Living Your Way Through Grief

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