Judy Condie’s life was shaped by her deep bond with her husband, Richard, a man she’d known almost her entire life. Their love story wasn’t a whirlwind romance but a slow burn, rooted in shared history and familiarity. They worked side by side, raised children together, and faced the ups and downs of life with a quiet resilience. Richard was her partner in every sense-through decades of shared experiences, he became her anchor. But life, as it often does, threw them an unexpected curveball.
Richard’s diagnosis of colorectal cancer was the moment their world shifted. For eight years, they battled the disease together, a fight marked by Richard’s incredible determination and Judy’s unwavering support. Despite the grim prognosis, Richard transformed into a man of incredible strength-quitting drinking, becoming more active, and finding a new sense of purpose. His fight wasn’t just against cancer but also against the idea of letting it define his remaining days. He became more compassionate, more driven, and more determined to live fully, even as his time grew shorter.
Judy watched this transformation with a mix of awe and heartbreak. Richard’s stoicism meant he kept much of his emotional journey to himself, but Judy understood him in a way that transcended words. They shared dark humour, and when the time came, Richard did open up-just briefly, in the final days-telling Judy all the things she had long known but had rarely heard from his lips. His final days were spent surrounded by love, in the comfort of a place they both cherished, with Judy by his side.
When Richard passed, Judy faced the daunting reality of life without him. The house they had shared felt empty, the life they had built together seemed suddenly vast and hollow. But Judy knew she couldn’t let grief consume her. She needed a plan, a purpose. So she turned to something she had always loved-the open road, the promise of new horizons, and the solitude of nature.
Judy’s journey took her across the world to Australia, where she spent five months travelling, often alone. It was in these moments of solitude, surrounded by the raw beauty of nature, that she began to truly grieve. The beaches, the wide-open skies, and the endless roads offered her a space to cry, to reflect, and to heal. This wasn’t just a trip; it was a pilgrimage, a journey inward as much as it was outward.
Through her travels, Judy found herself again. The sadness didn’t disappear, but it became a part of her story, a story she learned to carry with grace and strength. She learned to cry when she needed to, to let the grief wash over her and then let it go. And in doing so, she began to find peace.
Judy’s story is one of resilience, of the quiet courage it takes to keep living when everything you know has changed. It’s about finding new purpose in the aftermath of loss, about seeking out the light even when the darkness seems overwhelming. Through her journey, Judy shows us that while grief never truly leaves, it can lead us to unexpected places of beauty, growth, and ultimately, hope.
Links From the show :
Caught in a RIPtide. by Judie Connie - amzn.eu/d/4NpbOHq
The Salt Path by Raynor Win - amzn.eu/d/fKT1RMD
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