In 2024, with the unexpected death of Valerie Margarēt's husband, she developed grief exercises for herself to cope with this extraordinary loss. It was a way to help her get through day by day and in some cases, minute by minute. The year of "firsts" included birthdays, holidays, loneliness, and fear of the future. Although agonizing at times, she was able to feel empowered by simple activities she created for herself to do and felt these same exercises may be helpful to others experiencing pain beyond belief.

This was the catalyst for the launch of "A Journey Through Grief: The Year of Firsts. " the introductory series of the Check-In with Val podcast. Along with the opportunity to have guests connect, heal, and share their stories, the podcast series will be supplemented with an eBook readers may use to follow along and journal their experiences. You are invited to join the podcast for a heartfelt journey through love, loss, and resiliency as we come together to build a supportive community.