In middle school, Laura Bratton looked up at the blackboard and the words had disappeared. A rare retinal disease began taking her sight piece by piece—with no timeline, no roadmap, and no way to “prepare.” What followed was denial, panic attacks, and a daily apprenticeship in grit. With parents who refused to lower the bar (see the now-famous dishwasher story), Laura learned to take life inch by inch: get up, get dressed, get to school—win the day. Later, a guide dog in San Francisco became her first big “I can” moment.

In this conversation, Laura reframes two ideas most people get wrong: grief and gratitude. Grief isn’t failure; it’s fuel for grit. And gratitude isn’t loving your trauma—it’s appreciating what helps you navigate it (hello, guide dogs, Siri, and Alexa). Laura shares practical coaching cues for agency (“What’s one step today—one call, one email?”) and leaves listeners with a simple charge for any identity shift: give yourself compassion, then take the first step forward.

Show Notes & Chapters

• [00:00] Gratitude clarified: not for trauma, but for what helps you navigate it (yes, Siri/Alexa).

• [01:00] The geography-class moment: the blackboard goes blurry; life tilts.

• [05:00] Denial → “I can’t do this” → anxiety and depression.

• [08:30] “Inch by inch”: parents’ day-by-day mantra.

• [10:00] The dishwasher story: standards stay high; victim identity denied.

• [14:00] First guide dog in San Francisco: choosing to embody grit.

• [16:30] Identity + grief: permission to grieve and move forward at once.

• [21:00] Coaching others: acknowledge loss, then ask for one step today.

• [31:00] “Grief fuels grit”: holding both at the same time.

• [32:00] Gratitude practice: three specifics per day, no repeats; the mindset shift.

• [36:00] Myths: gratitude ≠ forced happiness; keep it embodied, not rote.

• [38:00] Agency: you can’t control circumstances, but you can control response.

• [40:00] Core message: “You are still enough” through any identity change.

• [41:00] Where to find Laura & her work: Laura Bratton | Keynote Speaker .

• [43:00] Final charge: self-compassion first, then one courageous step.

• Book: Harnessing Courage: Overcoming Adversity with Grit and Gratitude — Laura Bratton.

• Speaking/Coaching: Laura Bratton | Keynote Speaker (contact, programs, book info).