Within Reason

Within Reason

From Choice Wisdom by Gayle Goodman Lynch and Louisa Garrett

May 7, 2026 · 54 min · Season 3 · Episode 4

About this episode

Cristina Bernardo shares her profound journey of grief and self-discovery after the loss of her daughter and other loved ones in 2020.

In 2020, we were all going through a lot. But Cristina Bernardo was really going through a lot. In November of that year, her 10-month-old daughter’s heart gave out at a hospital in San Diego, leaving her and her husband in shock and grief, with questions that went unanswered as to why. To this day, they and doctors cannot explain why their beautiful daughter, who was full of love and life, fell exceptionally ill several times in her short life and eventually died. They still have no answers. And during that year, Cristina also lost other people who were very close to her - including her cousin Patrick, with whom she was very close - leaving her heart not just broken, but shredded. Cristina heard from others the phrase we all say when tragedies strike, but is often said when we can’t think of a clear “why” - and that is, “everything happens for a reason.” At first, she was angry when she heard that phrase, but she came to know that things happen . Terrible, unimaginable things. The reason is something we have to find for ourselves, she discovered. We need a reason to go on, and to honor those we lose. Alongside this outward, difficult journey, Cristina started to take an inward…

People in this episode

Hosts: Gayle Goodman Lynch, Louisa Garrett

Guest: Cristina Bernardo

Topics covered

  • grief
  • self-kindness
  • loss
  • motherhood
  • personal journey

Keywords

  • grief
  • self-improvement
  • loss
  • motherhood
  • personal growth

Mentioned in this episode

Places: San Diego

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