my second half self

Because no one heals alone. | Join this Community.

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I’m Bri Hardy

"You’re likely here because you either know me, my loss, or you’ve suffered a loss so consuming that you need a place to lean on. I get it, I’ve been there. I’m Bri Hardy, and my world was shattered the day I lost my son, Will. That kind of pain doesn’t just hurt, it changes you. It breaks you down, piece by piece, until you’re left wondering if you’ll ever feel whole again.

This is a home for the ones learning to breathe again, to live again, while carrying the weight of what will never be the same. You are not alone here—this is healing in motion.”

read my story
  • A group of four people standing on a football field. One person is wearing a maroon football uniform with the word "Falcons" and the number 9, while another is wearing a white "Kentlake Football" hoodie. The others are dressed casually. They are posing in front of stadium seating.
  • Two people in purple attire smiling and posing for a photo at a crowded football stadium.
  • Smiling person wearing a red and white varsity jacket standing in a field with blurred trees in the background.
  • A smiling woman and a smiling man taking a selfie inside an airplane. The woman has blonde hair and is wearing a striped shirt. The man is wearing a tan and navy baseball cap with a patch that reads 'Morgan Wallen, That Boy From East Tennessee,' and he has AirPods in his ears.
  • A smiling man and woman inside a decorated cafe, sitting at a wooden table with vintage-style posters. The cafe has Christmas decorations such as garlands and red ornaments. The woman wears a striped shirt, and the man in a gray T-shirt has sunglasses on the collar.
  • A smiling man wearing a large blue sombrero with gold embroidery and a black Hawaiian shirt with a colorful parrot and jungle leaf pattern, sitting at a table in a restaurant.
  • A young boy with light skin, wearing a black fedora-style hat, a dark gray t-shirt, and camouflage shorts, is standing in a clothing store. He is smiling at the camera and making a playful fist pose with one hand near his ear.
  • Two men standing in a cave with water, wearing helmets and casual clothing, smiling at the camera.
  • Two men in camouflage and green clothing sitting in the back of a pickup truck with a small deer.
  • Young man in graduation cap and gown sitting in a field of tall grass, smiling.
  • Two people sitting in a green golf cart on a sunny day, parked on a driveway in a suburban neighborhood with desert landscaping and houses in the background.
  • A man and a young boy posing together on a beach with ocean and trees in the background.
  • Young boy dressed as Superman, standing with hands on hips in a room with a fan, a potted plant, a box of Candy Land, and scattered toys on the floor.
  • Two children, a boy and a girl, standing on the grassy shore of a lake with snow, trees, and mountains in the background on a cloudy day.
  • Four young football players standing on a football field at night, holding their helmets, wearing maroon jerseys with 'Falcons' and numbers, smiling for the camera.
  • A young person sleeping on a gray sofa, cuddling a sleeping brown and black brindle cat.
  • A young man and woman standing close together outdoors, smiling, with lush green foliage in the background. The young man is wearing a red shirt, and the woman is wearing a black top.
  • A young girl with long curly hair standing next to a boy wearing a helmet on a bike. They are outdoors in a wooded area with cars and a cabin in the background.
  • A man and a young football player standing outdoors on a grass field with trees in the background. The player is in football gear, holding a helmet, and smiling.
  • A young male football player in a red jersey with the number 9, holding a football on a field.
  • A woman and a young boy smiling for a selfie indoors.

Explore reflections…

This is a home for the ones learning to breathe again, to live again, while carrying the weight of what will never be the same. You are not alone here—this is healing in motion.

Unfiltered Grief

Unfiltered
Surviving the Holidays While Grieving
Surviving the Holidays While Grieving

The holidays don’t cancel grief — they often magnify it. An unfiltered reflection on surviving the season while carrying loss, without pressure to feel okay.

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High Hope & False Expectations
High Hope & False Expectations

Some mornings begin before the sun, with grief that hasn’t rested and expectations that feel heavier than hope. This is an unfiltered reflection on loss, panic, and learning how to exist in a new normal.

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Living in the Black
Living in the Black

Grief changes everything. After burying my parents and losing my child, I’ve learned what it means to live in the black — the dark, quiet place where survival, anger, and acceptance collide. This is not polished or easy, but it is real.

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Lost and Found
Lost and Found

We will probably always feel lost in a world that holds no safe space for parents who have lost their children. Yet even here, in the ache of absence, we keep finding the next step—together. Because no matter how many times we lose our way, we return to each other.

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Coming Back to Life

Back to Life
The First Time I Remember Being Me
The First Time I Remember Being Me

Have you ever wondered when you first became aware of yourself? In a moment of unexpected stillness, I found my way back to the earliest memory of being “me.”

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RECIPE: “My Everyday Sourdough”
RECIPE: “My Everyday Sourdough”

This simple, beginner-friendly recipe blends patience, presence, and the comfort of homemade bread.

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When Your Mind Stops & Your Hands Keep Going
When Your Mind Stops & Your Hands Keep Going

Sometimes the quiet work of my hands says what my heart can’t. Between laundry, coffee, and sourdough stretch-and-folds, I’m learning how the smallest routines can anchor me — helping me find stillness, presence, and gratitude in this second half of life.

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Take a Break
Take a Break

After losing Will, life feels like a thousand shattered pieces I’m trying to glue back together. Some days I flounder, some days I fight—but I’m still here, still trying, still finding my way.

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Stay Connected

A space born from the ache of grief and the quiet strength of survival. It’s also becoming a place to build. In the months ahead, I’ll be sharing more about awareness initiatives, community partnerships, and a mission to create tangible impact in Will’s honor, including fundraising efforts and opportunities to support other families walking this road.

Support your Community & Your People!

  • A cartoon-style logo featuring a woman with long blonde hair, wearing headphones and glasses, smiling into a microphone with the text 'The 509 Unfiltered' below her.

    The 509 Unfiltered

    Jessica Taylor

    She’s bringing her grit and fire to the mic on The 509 Unfiltered. Based in Eastern Washington, the podcast is raw, real, and rooted in community. Jess dives into everything; small-town politics to the unfiltered realities people often shy away from. It’s honest, bold, and full of heart—just like her.

    Give The 509 Unfiltered a listen. Because voices like Jess’s? They don’t come around often.

    Listen Now
  • A box of Wild Heart brand tasting vinegars with four bottles inside, each labeled with different flavors, surrounded by black boxes and tasting notes on a wooden surface.

    Wild Heart Sipping Vinegar

    Julie Tiede

    For founder Julie Tiede, cooking wasn’t just a way to feed people—it was a way back to herself. What started as small-batch creations in her kitchen became Wild Heart Sipping Vinegar, a handcrafted blend of bold flavors and feel-good ingredients that nourish from the inside out.

    Whether you’re adding it to cocktails, marinades, or just a splash in sparkling water, Wild Heart is more than a vinegar—it’s a reminder that love lives in the little things.

    Click Here
  • A man standing in front of VIZ Art Ink Gallery, smiling, wearing a black shirt and gray cap, with plants and artwork visible behind him.

    Viz Art Ink

    Gregg “Viz” Visintainer turned personal expression into purpose. What began as classroom doodles became a powerful outlet for healing, storytelling, and connection. His detailed pen-and-ink pieces are filled with hidden words and imagery that reflect each piece’s deeper meaning.

    Much like My Second Half Self, his work is rooted in using creativity as a way to process, express, and move forward. Explore his work at www.vizartink.com and discover how art can say what words sometimes can’t.

    Learn More
  • Sophia Cosola Real Estate Broke from WA state in NYC

    Sophia Cosola | John L. Scott Real Estate

    Sophia isn’t just a realtor, she’s a trusted friend who shows up with heart in everything she does. Whether it’s guiding families through a move or helping someone find their forever home, Sophia makes the process feel supported, honest, and human.

    If you’re in Washington and looking for more than just a transaction, Sophia is who you want by your side.

    Learn More

  • LWJ College Fit Consulting

    Linda Weyler Jacobson

    She is a former Lady Griz standout, Kodak All-American Honorable Mention, and Big Sky Conference MVP. A wife and mom of two boys, she now works with athletes and families through LWJ College Fit Consulting, the business she founded in memory of her mom. She believes sports and life are about relationships that last far beyond the season. Learn more at www.lwjvideo.com.

    Learn More

  • Support Families Through the Martyred Angels Foundation

    Losing a child is an unimaginable pain, and no family should have to navigate that journey alone. Martyred Angels Foundation is here to offer comfort, connection, and resources to those who need it most. Through community support, advocacy, and healing programs, we stand beside grieving families, helping them find strength in the love that remains.

    If you're looking for support, you don’t have to do this alone. Whether you need resources, someone to listen, or a place where your child’s name is always welcome—they’re here.

    Learn more, get involved, and help us honor the lives of our angels.

    Click Here

a dedication to my dad…

“I chose to introduce My Second Half Self today in memoriam and in dedication to my Dad. Without him, I would not have the strength, courage, self-esteem or assertiveness to produce something like this. Without my Dad, I would not be able to carry on with life as I know it now…

…I want to connect as many of us together that are surviving and trying to figure out to thrive through our griefs and emotions. I want to make my Dad proud. I want to help all of us move through this world with understanding, grace, compassion, and a deeper understanding of what it is to live without the ones who mean the most to us..”

read the entire dedication

Share Your Story.

Let’s build this space together—one story, one connection, one step forward at a time.

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“I can’t wait to connect with you” - Bri

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