It’s Okay to Not Feel Festive: Grief Has No Timeline
Today’s post is dedicated to Diesel boy.
I’m Laura, founder of PunkerDoodle®. And while PunkerDoodle® is a brand of confidence, courage, kindness, positivity and I Can Attitude™ – it is also a lifestyle, and grieving is part of life, so I thought I would share a bit here.
My Diesel boy was more than a dog; he was a best friend, a forever soul mate, loved as much as my human boys. He passed Nov. 24th, and even though he had a rough 19 months prior, nothing can prep you for the heartbreaking day.
So here I am, being open with grief, with quietness, as grief is a personal experience to each of us. The crying begins at unexpected moments, like now as I write, as the loss within my heart is so raw still.
But if you too are grieving, if your heart aches, please know that it is part of our human experience and it is ok. It is ok to cry when you need to, laugh at silly things, and this is a big one: talk to your loved one out loud, in your head – it is perfectly fine and part of grieving.
The firsts—so hard, so painful. And if you had not loved so deeply, you would not hurt so bad right now. I am telling myself this exact same thing as I type this for you in this post.
It hurts. I feel the loss, the mental memories for all the things I had been doing for him throughout each day and night—the schedule, the medicine, the play, the love, and the list goes on and on.
I just want you to know you are not alone and your loved one in spirit knows your love and holds strength and space for you as you process the moments and days ahead.
You can cry and still own your I Can Attitude™—honoring your grief is honoring the absolute love you shared. Both are true at once.
Sending you love, Laura Lynn Doyle
Courage Isn’t Always Loud
Courage can be bold and unstoppable — the big breakthrough, the giant leap, the dramatic moment that changes everything. But real courage also lives in the quiet moments.
It’s choosing kindness when irritation feels easier. It’s taking one more step after a discouraging day. It’s letting yourself hope again, even when fear tries to hold you back. It’s the soft decision to keep going.
These tiny moments don’t always look powerful from the outside. But they build your strength from the inside.
At PunkerDoodle®, we believe courage grows through repetition — through daily choices that may seem ordinary but carry real heart. Your I Can Attitude™ isn’t built in a single moment. It’s shaped in the way you keep trying, keep caring, keep showing up for yourself.
Courage doesn’t have to show up in a loud way. Sometimes it’s just showing up again and again.
In loving memory of Grampy – an elder deer of the forest who kept showing up no matter how hard life became, with his soft, steady, unhurried courage.
A Gentle Reminder: You Can Start Fresh Anytime
Some days feel heavy before they even begin. It happens to all of us. But here’s something worth holding close: You can start fresh at any moment.
Right now counts. So does five minutes from now. A new beginning doesn’t need permission or perfect timing – just a breath and a little willingness.
Take a moment. Let your shoulders drop. Let the pressure loosen its grip.
Courage doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it shows up quietly — in the simple decision to try again, or to move forward with kindness instead of frustration.
At PunkerDoodle®, we believe your I Can Attitude™ starts with these small, steady choices. Not grand gestures. Not flawless days. Just you, showing up with heart.
Today is still yours. And you’re allowed to begin again anytime you choose.
PunkerDoodle®