The Lost Love Stories with Madelyn Agostini: Living a YOLO Life After Way Too Much Loss

Send us Fan Mail Madelyn Agostini is 22 years old—and in the last several years, she has experienced an extraordinary amount of loss. She has lost nine young people in her extended circle, along with my husband Jon, her uncle and godfather. Some were close friends. Some were classmates. Some were people she knew through the people she loved. But each loss became another reminder that life can change in an instant. So what does that do to a young person? For Madelyn, surprisingly, it hasn't made her more cautious. It's given her a mantra for life:  YOLO, baby! Instead of spending her life worrying about what might happen, Madelyn has decided to live in the present. She's studied abroad twice, wants to see the world, is considering becoming a flight attendant, and is determined to have a life filled with experiences. But getting to that place hasn't been easy. In this episode, Madelyn and I talk about growing up around so much loss, the impact it had on her mental health, the importance of therapy, and how she learned to recognize when she needed help. We also talk about the incredible friends who simply showed up—sometimes with a hug, sometimes with food, and sometimes by sitting beside her in silence. And we talk about something that matters deeply to me: **how we keep people alive after they're gone.** Madelyn has learned that talking about the person, sharing the funny stories, sending the song that reminds you of them, and telling someone about a memory isn't “bringing up the sad stuff.” It's remembering the whole person. Because death is sad. But the relationships we had with those people aren't. Madelyn also shares the little things that have helped her keep moving forward: affirmations, stretching, getting outside, reaching out to friends, and taking life one small step at a time. This is a conversation about grief, mental health, young people and loss—but it's also about choosing to live. And Madelyn's message is one I hope every young person who has experienced loss hears: **You don't have to figure everything out. You don't have to pretend you're fine. You just have to keep taking the next little step.** 🎙️ Listen to *The Lost Love Stories with Madelyn Agostini* wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/alIRfcnc1B0 #TheLostLoveStories #YoungGrief #GriefJourney #LifeAfterLoss #GriefAndHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #YoungAdults #LossAndGrief #HealingAfterLoss #LivingInThePresent #FindingJoy #Resilience #GriefSupport #RememberingLovedOnes #KeepLiving #yolo #youarenotalone Email thelostlovestories@gmail.com with comments, questions or to be considered as a guest on show.