When Linda Ledwidge moved to Mallorca nearly three decades ago, she could hardly have imagined the journey she would embark upon. From running a beloved family bar to launching holistic health practices, Linda’s life has been woven with change, growth, and resilience. Her latest project, the anthology Growing Through Grief, brings together the reflections of fourteen contributors on the many faces of grief, offering comfort, understanding, and solidarity to those navigating loss. I sat down with Linda to talk about her life, her inspiration for the book, and what she hopes it will achieve.
Vicki: Linda, you’ve been in Mallorca longer than many of us. Please give us a brief overview of how you ended up here.
Linda: We came on holiday in 1996. It was our first family holiday in five years. I fell in love with the island immediately. I was working as a midwife and nurse back in Scotland. We spoke to a few people who said I could get work on the island as a nurse, and my husband Peter was offered a job starting a bookie’s. Two weeks later, he moved over, and soon after, I followed with our three young children. It was a leap of faith, but looking back, I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Vicki: Was it hard leaving your mum and dad behind?
Linda: Strangely, no. My parents were incredibly supportive. They understood that we could have a better life here. We stayed close despite the distance; even now, our family ties are very tight. Video calls and technology help too, keeping us connected even when we’re miles apart.
Vicki: You’ve worn many hats over the years. What kind of businesses have you run here?
Linda: Initially, Peter and I opened Burlington Bertie’s, a bar with a kids’ club, which became very popular, especially among the Irish community. We later opened a golf academy, a golf shop, and a bed shop. I also ran a holistic health practice and an antenatal and postnatal care agency.
Vicki: Let’s talk about the anthology. What inspired you to create Growing Through Grief?
Linda: It began with my own experiences. 2014 was a devastating year: Peter and I separated after 24 years of marriage, my father passed away, and shortly after, my baby sister Susan was diagnosed with cancer. She died six months later. That year was a blur. As the ten-year anniversary approached in 2024, I felt compelled to create something meaningful in their memory. At first, I thought it would be about death, but as I worked on it, I realised grief touches so many areas of life, not just bereavement, but changes in identity, career shifts, children leaving home, even retirement. Then, just as the project was taking shape, my mum passed away in 2024. That loss brought a whole new depth to my understanding of grief and reaffirmed why this book needed to exist.
Vicki: How did you select the contributors?
Linda: I didn’t really select them. I put the idea out into my network: “Have you ever experienced a loss or transformation that profoundly changed you?” I invited anyone who felt called to share their story. Some people said yes, some said no, and some meant to but couldn’t. Fourteen people contributed, each with a deeply personal, heartfelt chapter. The diversity of experiences has made the book so much richer than I could have anticipated.
Vicki: Were there any surprises during the process?
Linda: Many. I realised how often people had gone through significant grief without recognising it as such. Grief isn’t only death; it’s the loss of who we were, or who we thought we would be. It opened my eyes to how unaware we often are of our emotional journeys. Also, even experienced writers found it difficult to write about their grief; it’s a very different challenge from writing fiction or professional work. The vulnerability people showed moved me deeply.
Vicki: What was the most challenging part of putting the book together?
Linda: Honestly, it was all incredibly challenging. Balancing the rawness of each person’s story with the need for clarity was difficult. I wanted to preserve each contributor’s voice while ensuring the stories were understandable and accessible. Also, going through my grief journey again while editing everyone else’s was emotionally taxing. It stirred up old wounds but also brought new healing. The editing process took far longer than I had expected, but honouring everyone’s stories properly was essential.
Vicki: You mentioned that the meaning of grief evolved for you during the process. How would you define it now?
Linda: Grief is not just an emotion; it’s a journey. It’s about change, identity, and transformation. It’s not something you “get over”; it becomes part of who you are. Grief asks you, “Who are you now?” after a loss, whatever that loss may be. It’s ongoing and cyclical, not something you tick off like stages on a list. And it’s not something that makes you weaker; it often makes you stronger unexpectedly.
Vicki: Speaking of stages, what do you think about the “seven stages of grief” theory?
Linda: It can be helpful to recognise common feelings, but it shouldn’t be treated as a roadmap. Grief isn’t linear. You don’t move neatly from one stage to the next. It’s messy, and that’s okay. It can feel like you’re cycling back through the same emotions repeatedly, and that’s perfectly normal.
Vicki: I loved the introduction you wrote. Please share a little excerpt here.
Linda: [Reads] “Grief is not just about losing someone or something. It’s about change, growth, and discovering who we’re becoming. It can arise during major life transitions, the end of a relationship, a career shift, moving to a new place, evolving identities, or even personal growth that requires us to let go of an old version of ourselves.”
Vicki: That’s beautiful. What do you hope readers will take away from Growing Through Grief?
Linda: I want them to know they are not alone, that whatever they are feeling is valid, that it’s okay to grieve not just people but dreams, careers, relationships, and stages of life, and that through that grief, there is potential for growth, even when it doesn’t feel like it at the time. I hope that each reader feels seen and understood.
Vicki: Is this the end of the project, or are there more plans?
Linda: I plan to create a companion grief journal, with prompts and tools to help people process their emotions. I also plan to distribute the book to bereavement counsellors, support groups, and anyone who can benefit from it. It’s not about making money but helping as many people as possible. I’d love to organise group readings or workshops in the future, creating spaces where people can feel safe exploring their emotions.
Vicki: You mentioned that writing things down helped you process difficult experiences. Can you tell us more about why you believe journaling is so powerful?
Linda: Writing forces you to connect with how you genuinely feel. It’s private, honest, and freeing. Often, we don’t even realise what’s bottled up inside until we put pen to paper. Writing slows the mind down enough to process emotions more intensely. It’s one of the most straightforward and healing practices anyone can do.
Vicki: One final question. What would it be if you could say one thing to someone in deep grief right now?
Linda: You are not alone. Don’t isolate yourself. Take a breath. Take a minute. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, and that’s okay. And when you are ready, you will grow stronger than you ever imagined.
Growing Through Grief is now available on Amazon as a paperback and a free Kindle Unlimited download. Linda hopes that each reader will pass it on to someone else who needs it, helping to weave a wider web of support, understanding, and kindness in the world. She reminds us all that grief is not a wall but a bridge to a new version of ourselves, built with love, resilience, and hope. There will be a celebration launch and reading of excerpts of the book on O’Neills in Palmanova. The event is free and open to everyone and will start at 7pm, Monday May 26th