Grief is never simple—especially when it’s tied to complicated relationships, trauma, and unanswered questions. In this deeply moving episode of Hard Beautiful Journey, I sit down with Paula Di Marco, a writer, visual artist, and mental health advocate who turned to art and storytelling after the devastating loss of her partner, Alex, to suicide in 2021.

Paula opens up about navigating love and loss when mental illness is involved, the power of creative expression in healing, and how she has learned to hold both pain and beauty in the same breath. She shares the raw reality of grieving someone who also caused harm, the complex emotions that arise, and how she ultimately found resilience, purpose, and a new voice through writing and art.

If you or someone you love has experienced grief, trauma, or loss, this conversation is an invitation to hold space for your healing, your pain, and your growth.

🚀 Connect with Paula Di Marco: 🌐 Website: www.pauladimarco.art 📖 Blog: Between Beauty and Pain on Substack 📷 Instagram: @pauladimarco.art

🎙 Connect with me, Tiff Carson: 🌐 Website: www.hardbeautifuljourney.com 📷 Instagram: @iamtiffcarson | @hardbeautifuljourney 📩 Email: hello@tiffcarson.com

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide, mental health, and trauma. If you are in a vulnerable place, please check in with yourself before listening. If you need support, reach out to someone you trust or a professional resource.