Stories, Soul Work & Substack

John Rinaldo
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The Positive Pen Podcast—"Stories, Soul Work & Substack"—is a live weekly conversation exploring honest stories, inner work, and the courage it takes to write and become. Each episode brings real voices together to reflect on meaning, healing, spirituality, and why writing has become a lifeline. rinaldoj.substack.com

  1. 6d ago

    The Monsters We Recognize — A Conversation with Emma Steel

    Thank you Saira Anwar, rhonda doruiter, Lynn busby, Surabhi Dobhal, Storm Whisperer and many others for tuning into my live video! What if the monsters we fear are actually reflections of ourselves? On this episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I welcomed Emma Steel, author of Myths & Monsters, for a fascinating conversation about storytelling, imagination, fear, and the parts of human nature we don’t always recognize within ourselves. Emma shared how her fascination with mythology began with discovering that many familiar fairy tales were originally much darker than the versions we know today. From the Brothers Grimm to ancient Greek mythology, she explained how stories evolve across generations, reflecting the fears, beliefs, and struggles of the people telling them. What if the monsters we fear are actually reflections of ourselves? On this episode of Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I welcomed Emma Steel, author of Myths & Monsters, for a fascinating conversation about storytelling, imagination, fear, and the parts of human nature we don’t always recognize within ourselves. Emma shared how her fascination with mythology began with discovering that many familiar fairy tales were originally much darker than the versions we know today. From the Brothers Grimm to ancient Greek mythology, she explained how stories evolve across generations, reflecting the fears, beliefs, and struggles of the people telling them. Her book Myths & Monsters takes familiar characters and gives them unexpected lives. Tooth fairies exist within their own social hierarchy. Medusa becomes more than a frightening figure; she becomes someone deserving of love and understanding. But our conversation went beyond fictional creatures. Emma explained that monsters often represent our own emotions: jealousy, anger, fear, ambition, love, and the desire to belong. Even the gods of Greek mythology possessed remarkably human weaknesses. We also explored the difference between ancient fears and modern ones. While our ancestors feared darkness and unknown dangers, today’s fears often involve rejection, isolation, judgment, and losing our place in the world. Perhaps the most revealing part of our discussion came when Emma described what writing has taught her about herself. Through creating both heroes and villains, she discovered personal flaws, unexpected perspectives, and opportunities for growth. Writing became more than entertainment. It became a form of reflection, sometimes even catharsis. Emma also shared her creative process, balancing a general direction with the freedom to let characters shape their journeys. Her approach reminded us that creativity doesn’t always follow a carefully constructed plan. As our conversation drew to a close, Emma offered a message that stayed with me: the person we perceive as a monster may not be one at all. Sometimes people cause harm without intending to. Sometimes they are struggling with circumstances we cannot see. And sometimes, with accountability, understanding, and grace, people can change. That doesn’t erase the harm, but it reminds us to look beyond appearances. Perhaps the greatest lesson of storytelling is that understanding others begins with recognizing something of ourselves in them. Five Lessons Learned * Appearances can deceive. What frightens us may simply be something we haven’t taken the time to understand. * Our fears reveal our humanity. Ancient monsters and modern anxieties often reflect the same fundamental emotions. * Writing encourages self-discovery. The characters we create can expose strengths, weaknesses, and hidden feelings. * Creativity requires freedom. A story can have direction while still allowing imagination to lead somewhere unexpected. * Everyone deserves the opportunity to grow. Compassion, accountability, and grace can create room for meaningful change. Stories. Soul Work. Truth. John Rinaldo | The Positive Pen Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Oct 19

    Hands at Work — A Conversation with Ahmad Shah Karimi

    Sometimes the smallest memories of childhood leave the greatest impressions on our lives. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I had the pleasure of welcoming Ahmad Shah Karimi, author of Hands at Work: Stitches of a Childhood from Afghanistan. Ahmad joined me from Berlin, Germany, to share a remarkable journey that began in a small Afghan village and eventually led him far from the home and people he loved. What struck me most wasn’t simply the hardship he experienced. It was the beauty he remembered. Children shaping birds from clay. Friends climbing mountains to search for the Eid moon. The anticipation of new clothes. His mother’s cooking and the smell of halwa filling the house. These weren’t extraordinary events. They were ordinary moments that became extraordinary memories. We often hear about Afghanistan through war, politics, and conflict. Ahmad reminded us that behind those headlines are families, traditions, laughter, dreams, and people simply living their lives. But his story also carries difficult choices. Following the Taliban’s return to Kabul in August 2021, Ahmad was forced to flee Afghanistan because of his work with young people. He eventually reached Germany, leaving his family behind. He spoke openly about the guilt he experienced after reaching safety, particularly when he learned that his young son had stayed awake wondering where his father had gone. That moment stayed with me. We talked about how difficult it can be to make peace with decisions made under extraordinary circumstances. Sometimes there are no perfect choices, only the choices available to us. One of the most touching parts of our conversation was Ahmad’s description of his grandmother. He remembered her kindness, her advice, and the way she welcomed him home. Although she is no longer physically present, her influence continues through the values he carries. And that brought us to another important question: What is home when the people and places we remember are no longer the same? Perhaps home isn’t simply a building or a country. Sometimes it’s the love we received, the lessons we learned, and the memories we carry wherever life takes us. Ahmad also reminded us that writing can become a refuge—a way to reconnect with people, places, and moments that distance cannot erase. Thank you, Ahmad, for sharing your childhood, your courage, and your remarkable perspective on life. Five Lessons I Took Away From Our Conversation * The smallest moments often become our greatest memories. Childhood isn’t remembered only through major events, but through ordinary acts of love, laughter, and kindness. * Hardship and happiness can exist together. Even during difficult times, children find ways to play, dream, and experience joy. * Home is more than a place. It lives in the people who raised us, the traditions we remember, and the values we carry forward. * Making peace with the past doesn’t mean forgetting it. We can look back at difficult decisions with understanding and compassion rather than judgment. * Our stories preserve what time and distance cannot. Writing allows us to keep memories alive and share pieces of our lives with future generations. Perhaps the greatest lesson from today’s conversation is that we may leave the places where our stories began, but we never completely leave behind the people who helped write those first chapters. Our past may shape us, but it doesn’t have to define where our story goes next. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Oct 13

    Remembering Who We Are — A Conversation with Pam Lob

    Thank you Mama's Homestead, Bonnie Bluewater 🐦, Lessons Along The Way, Jason Stephenson, and many others for tuning into my live video with Pam | Echoes of Ancient Wisdom! Join me for my next live video in the app. Sometimes the stories we write take us to places we’ve never been, only to help us understand something about ourselves that has been there all along. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I had the pleasure of welcoming Pam Lob, author of Daughter of the Solstice, the first book in her Gia Remembered series. What began as a conversation about historical fiction became something much deeper: a discussion about grief, healing, belonging, the people we lose, and the memories we carry forward. Pam introduced us to Monia, a young woman whose life is shattered by violence and who finds herself transported across the sea into an unfamiliar world. Her journey takes readers into ancient Kemet, but the heart of her story is something we can all recognize. What happens when everything familiar is taken away, and how do we rediscover who we are? That question stayed with me throughout our conversation. We talked about how our experiences shape us, sometimes in ways we don’t fully understand until years later. Pam shared a personal story about losing contact with family members after a death and how grief can affect generations when people choose to push painful memories away. That brought me back to Remi’s Journey 2, particularly Remi’s experiences with Gus. I’ve been writing about grief, loss, and the emptiness someone leaves behind. And perhaps that’s why Monia’s journey resonated with me. Both stories remind us that moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting the people who helped shape our lives. We also explored the writing journey itself, the importance of sharing our stories, and the opportunities independent authors have to build meaningful connections. Pam reminded us that after years of writing, some of the greatest rewards aren’t necessarily book sales or recognition. They’re the people we meet along the way. And I couldn’t agree more. That’s one of the reasons I continue building The Positive Pen, our Pen Library, and our book club. It’s about creating opportunities for writers while developing a community where we can learn from one another. Thank you, Pam, for joining me and sharing your story, your experiences, and the wisdom behind your writing Five Lessons I Took Away From Our Conversation * Our past is part of who we are. We cannot change everything we’ve experienced, but we can discover meaning in what we’ve lived through. * Grief doesn’t have to erase connection. Remembering those we’ve lost can help us carry their love and influence forward. * Healing is a journey of rediscovery. Sometimes we must find our way through unfamiliar circumstances before recognizing our own strength. * Stories connect us across generations. Whether set in ancient civilizations or today’s world, human experiences of love, loss, courage, and belonging remain familiar. * The relationships we build matter. Success as a writer isn’t measured only by books sold, but also by the lives we touch and the friendships we develop. Perhaps the greatest lesson from today’s conversation is that remembering who we are also means remembering the people, experiences, and lessons that brought us here. Our stories may change, but the wisdom we discover along the way becomes part of who we are. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approva © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  4. Oct 6

    Helping Young People Find Their Way Back — A Conversation with Dr. Deborah Vinall

    Thank you Saira Anwar, Bonnie Bluewater 🐦, rhonda doruiter, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me on the next Stories, Soul Work & Substack for another conversation that matters. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with Dr. Deborah Vinall for a conversation every parent, teacher, and anyone who cares about young people should hear. We talked about trauma—but more importantly, we talked about what happens after something difficult enters a young person’s life. Deborah understands this from both sides. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with Dr. Deborah Vinall for a conversation every parent, teacher, and anyone who cares about young people should hear. We talked about trauma—but more importantly, we talked about what happens after something difficult enters a young person’s life. Deborah understands this from both sides. As a professional, she has worked with young people experiencing trauma. But her work also comes from lived experience. As a teenager, she experienced homelessness and trauma herself. She spoke about creating the kind of resource she wishes someone had placed in her hands when she was young. That stayed with me. Because sometimes we look at a teenager whose behavior has suddenly changed and ask, “What’s wrong with them?” Maybe we should be asking: “What happened to them?” We talked about the signs adults can miss and why a change in behavior can sometimes be a young person’s way of communicating something they don’t yet know how to put into words. And parents don’t always have to have the answer. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is create enough safety for a young person to tell us what’s happening without immediately judging, correcting, or trying to fix everything. Deborah offered young people one particularly important piece of advice: Find one safe person. A parent. A teacher. An aunt or uncle. A counselor. A therapist. Someone emotionally mature enough to listen and help carry something that may feel impossible to carry alone. We also talked about healing itself. Deborah explained that trauma doesn’t simply disappear because time passes. But when young people are given tools to understand what they’re experiencing, ground themselves, challenge negative beliefs, and process what happened, a different future can begin to open. Maybe that’s what “finding your way back” really means. It isn’t returning to exactly who you were before something happened. It’s discovering that what happened to you doesn’t get to decide who you become. Five Lessons I Took Away From Our Conversation * Behavior can be communication. Look beyond what a young person is doing and ask what may be happening underneath it. * One safe person can matter enormously. Young people shouldn’t have to carry trauma alone. * Listen before trying to fix. Sometimes being present is the first step toward helping. * Healing takes tools and support. Grounding, movement, sleep, therapy, trusted relationships, and understanding trauma can all be part of recovery. * Trauma doesn’t have to write the ending. Helping young people work through difficult experiences early can open the door to resilience and a different path forward. Sometimes helping a young person find their way back begins with something very simple: Making sure they know they don’t have to find the way alone. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Oct 1

    Typing It Real: Finding Your Way, Gen X Musings & What Really Matters With John Rinaldo

    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

    Typing It Real: Finding Your Way, Gen X Musings & What Really Matters With John Rinaldo

  6. Sep 29

    The Leadership Frame — A Conversation with Chellie Grossman

    Thank you, Kanyin Abebi, rhonda doruiter, Karl Tame, Emma Steel and many others, for tuning into my live video! Join me on the next Stories, Soul Work & Substack for another conversation that matters. Today on Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chellie Grossman for a conversation about something that touches every part of our lives: leadership. But this wasn’t a conversation about titles, corner offices, or being the person in charge. It was about learning how to lead ourselves. Chellie reminded us that leadership begins long before anyone follows us. It begins with the choices we make when nobody is watching—with our values, our integrity, our willingness to listen, and our ability to take responsibility when we get something wrong. We talked about the difference between managing people and truly leading them. Good leadership isn’t built on control. It is built on trust. And trust isn’t something we can demand from another person. It is something we earn, slowly, through consistency, honesty, communication, and action. One of the themes that stayed with me was self-awareness. Before we can understand the people around us, we have to be willing to understand ourselves. That means recognizing our strengths, but also being willing to look at our weaknesses, our reactions, and the things we still need to work on. That takes courage. We also talked about communication and the importance of listening—not simply waiting for our turn to speak, but genuinely hearing what another person is trying to tell us. Sometimes leadership means having the answer. Other times, it means creating enough space for someone else to find theirs. And perhaps that is where leadership and soul work meet. We spend so much of our lives looking outward—at what other people should change, what organizations should do differently, or what the world needs to fix. Sometimes the harder question is: What do I need to change in myself? Thank you, Chellie, for joining me today and sharing your experience, perspective, and lessons with all of us. Five Lessons I Took Away From Our Conversation * Leadership starts with yourself. Before leading others, learn to understand and lead yourself. * Integrity is practiced. Our values mean little unless our daily actions reflect them. * Trust must be earned. Consistency, honesty, and accountability build trust over time. * Listening is part of leading. Great communication begins with genuinely hearing other people. * Leadership requires courage. Growth sometimes means admitting we were wrong, changing direction, and choosing what is right over what is comfortable. Leadership isn’t something we simply claim. It is something we practice every day. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Sep 22

    Is This It? — A Conversation with Natissa Sang

    Thank you Author Gold, A New Dawn Healing Arts, rhonda doruiter, Tom Janiak, Harriet Corvine, and many others for tuning into my live video with Nat Sang! Join me on the next Stories, Soul Work & Substack for another conversation that matters. Sometimes the most important question we can ask ourselves is also one of the simplest: Is this it? On this episode of The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with Natissa Sang, creator of The Midlife Reset, to talk about what happens when the life we’ve worked so hard to build no longer fits the person we’ve become. For more than 30 years, Nat built what many would consider a successful life. She earned her MBA, raised a family, and spent nearly two decades in senior healthcare leadership. From the outside, everything looked right. But something was missing. Nat described much of her thirties and forties as living on autopilot—work, family, responsibilities, commuting, deadlines, and constantly preparing for what came next. Eventually, the question became impossible to ignore: Is this it? One of the clearest warning signs was what Nat called the “Sunday scaries.” The anxiety about returning to work became so overwhelming that she once skipped the second night of a Metallica concert—even though they were her favorite band—because she couldn’t escape the dread of Monday morning. Then, at 52, her corporate position was eliminated. What could have been viewed only as a setback became an opportunity to rethink what she wanted from the next chapter of her life. Instead of immediately sending out résumés, Nat began asking deeper questions about purpose, identity, creativity, and what success actually meant to her. Writing became part of that transformation. Through journaling and sharing her experiences on Substack, Nat rediscovered the writer and creative person she had buried beneath decades of corporate responsibilities. She eventually developed her 7R Reset: Recognize, Release, Reframe, Reclaim, Redesign, Rebuild, and Reset. Perhaps the biggest change wasn’t simply leaving corporate life. It was redefining success. Today, success for Nat isn’t a title or promotion. It’s making every day count, appreciating small moments, creating something meaningful, helping someone, and having greater ownership over how she spends her time. And the question “Is this it?” hasn’t disappeared. It simply means something different now. Instead of “Is this all my life will ever be?” it has become: “What else is possible?” Five Lessons from My Conversation with Natissa Sang * Pay attention when something feels wrong. Discomfort can be an invitation to examine your life. * Your career isn’t your identity. A title describes your job, not your worth. * Reframe the setback. An ending can become the catalyst for an entirely different beginning. * Write the dream down. Change becomes more possible when we give ourselves permission to imagine it. * Your story isn’t finished because one chapter is. Sometimes questioning the life you’ve built doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it means you’re still growing. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo is a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. Through honest writing and lived experience, he explores what it means to grow, endure, and find your voice. He also hosts the live podcast The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, where writers, authors, and artists share their journeys through meaningful, real conversations. The show airs every Monday at 4 PM EST. Author’s Note: I have dyslexia and use assistive technologies, including AI-assisted editing, to improve grammar and readability. Every story reflects my lived experiences, voice, and final approval © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

  8. Sep 15

    The People We Meet Along the Way — The Story of April and Gary

    Thank you Bonnie Bluewater 🐦, rhonda doruiter, Amar | Travel & Stories, and many others for tuning into my live video! On this episode of The Positive Pen: Stories, Soul Work & Substack, I sat down with my longtime TikTok friend Gary to talk about his wife, April—the woman he met online more than two decades ago, built a family with, laughed with, and ultimately had to say goodbye to. Their story began in 2003 in a Yahoo chat room. Two 18-year-olds started talking and stayed up until five in the morning. Soon there were nightly phone calls after 9 p.m., when cell phone minutes were free, followed by a 900-mile journey that brought them together in person. What began online became a life together. Gary described April as genuine, intentional, warm, funny, and someone who “never knew a stranger.” She loved bringing people together. Their home became the gathering place for holidays, Christmas celebrations, game nights, and pumpkin-carving parties for their children and friends. Then came the part of their story no family is ever truly prepared for. April became ill, and after enduring tremendous pain and treatment, she passed away. Gary spoke openly about those final moments, the numbness that followed, and the reality of returning home knowing the person who had been at the center of his life was no longer physically there. Perhaps the most powerful part of our conversation was Gary’s description of grief. He compared their relationship to two trees planted beside each other whose roots had grown together. Pull one tree away, and part of the other tree inevitably goes with it. The surviving tree may continue growing, but it needs time, nurturing, and care. That’s grief. We also talked about Gary’s children and how the family has learned to recognize when someone is struggling. Instead of trying to fix the pain, they sit together in it. As Gary beautifully put it, sometimes “you just need somebody to sit in the mud with you.” One comment from rhonda doruiter after hearing Gary’s story captured the heart of our conversation beautifully: “You are grieving the person you built your life with while somehow carrying life forward for your children. The love you have for your wife, and the father you are determined to remain for your children, speaks more powerfully about you than any definition of strength could.” I think Rhonda captured something important. Strength after loss isn’t pretending you’re okay. Sometimes strength is simply getting up, loving your children, carrying the memories, and finding a way through another day. And maybe that’s what the people we meet along the way ultimately teach us. We don’t necessarily “move on” from those we love. We learn how to carry them forward. Five Lessons from April and Gary’s Story * Love becomes part of who we are. Deep relationships leave roots that remain long after someone is gone. * Grief cannot be fixed. Sometimes the greatest gift is simply sitting beside someone in their pain. * Moving forward isn’t the same as moving on. We can continue living while carrying those we love with us. * Strength can be quiet. Sometimes strength is a grieving father continuing to show up for his children while carrying his own pain. * Never underestimate the people you meet along the way. A conversation between two strangers can become a love story that changes an entire lifetime. A Song for April Less than a month after April passed, Gary found himself awake at 2 a.m. Unable to sleep, he began writing. Those words became a song for the woman he loved. Sometimes we write for others to hear. Other times, we write because our heart needs somewhere to put the love that remains. Thank you for reading. This work is reader-supported, and your presence here matters. About the Author John Rinaldo writes The Positive Pen, a weekly publication centered on soul work, reflection, and the quiet process of becoming. He also hosts the live podcast Stories, Soul Work & Substack every Monday at 4 PM EST, where written ideas open into honest conversation. © 2026 John V. Rinaldo. All rights reserved. This work is protected under U.S. and international copyright law. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, displayed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. Official publications are released only through verified accounts directly controlled by John V. Rinaldo. THE POSITIVE PEN is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rinaldoj.substack.com/subscribe

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The Positive Pen Podcast—"Stories, Soul Work & Substack"—is a live weekly conversation exploring honest stories, inner work, and the courage it takes to write and become. Each episode brings real voices together to reflect on meaning, healing, spirituality, and why writing has become a lifeline. rinaldoj.substack.com

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