S7E159 Navigating the Waters of Grief and the Pursuit of Connection with Dr. Barbara J. Hopkinson

Real Talk Real Women Breaking The Silence Around Abuse

Grief has a way of reshaping our lives in unimaginable ways, and no one knows this better than Dr. Barbara Hopkinson, who joined us to share her story of heartbreaking loss and remarkable resilience. Her journey through the sorrowful terrain of losing her children and husband, coupled with the sting of an online romance scam, lays bare the vulnerabilities we all face in our search for connection. Dr. Barbara's creation of A Butterfly's Journey, a nonprofit dedicated to guiding others through their grief, stands as a beacon of hope, proving that our deepest pain can catalyze profound transformation and support for others.

Through our candid discussion, Dr. Barbara peels back the layers on the often-overlooked emotional toll of online scams, especially on those who have already endured great personal loss. Her personal path to self-forgiveness after such a betrayal underscores the message that healing is not just possible, but that it can also lead to empowerment and helping others. By serving on the board of a women's crisis center, Dr. Barbara brings insights into the many forms of abuse and loss, ensuring that our conversation doesn't just stop at awareness, but also leads to actionable support and the nurturing of resilience, one phone call, one photo, and one story at a time.

Dr. Barbara J. Hopkinson's bio

Dr Barbara J Hopkinson is founder of A Butterfly’s Journey™ (ABJ), a nonprofit for resilience after loss, as well as The Compassionate Friends (TCF) of Greater Newburyport, MA. TCF is part of the largest grief recovery organization in the world (supporting family after a child dies). She is also a Grief Recovery Institute certified Advanced Grief Recovery Method (GRM) Specialist, speaker, best-selling author, and retired IBM executive who remains resilient after the loss of 3 children, her husband, an infant brother, her parents, and sight in one eye.

Her background is in global corporate technology for several industries, including 10 years at IBM. She received ‘TWIN – Tribute to Women in Industry’ from the YWCA. Later in her career and since her retirement, Barbara has led families through the journey of grief for 20 years. During that time, she received awards; ‘Top Professional in Resilience After Loss’ and ‘Empowered Woman’ awards from IAOTP (International Assn of Top Professionals) as well as being inducted into the WAW (Women Appreciating Women) Hall of Fame. Most recently, Barbara was named LOANI (Ladies Of All Nations International) Leader for Resilience and she also received an honorary doctorate in Humanitarianism from GIA (Global International Alliance) plus a President Biden Lifetime Achievement Award for her nonprofit service.

Barbara is author of a memoir titled “A Butterfly’s Journey… Healing Grief After the Loss of a Child”, and the first in a series of photo books “Faces of Resilience”, as well as co-author of 8 other books. Barbara is a member of IAOTP, LOANI, and GSFE (Global Society of Female Entrepreneurs).

Dr Hopkinson lives north of Boston, near her adult son, stepchildren, their partners, and her five grandchildren. Her favorite role is ‘Nana.’’ She also loves travel, cooking and photography.

Connect with Dr Barbara

More info/non-profit resources: http://abutterflysjourney.org

Tel: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

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