In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Tina Palmgren, business owner and Excel specialist, about navigating one of the darkest chapters of her life—a sudden and tragic loss that forever changed her relationship with family, grief, and herself. Tina opens up about becoming a young widow, losing the stepchildren she loved, and the unique ways she rebuilt her life, moving from "just being alive" to truly thriving.

About the Guest: T

ina Palmgren survived open heart surgery at the tender age of 15 months. Her passion is to strengthen the heartbeat of your business – the back-office processes needed to run your business.

With a BA in Accounting, a master’s in technology management, 25 years in accounting and finance, and 12 years as an entrepreneur creating customized systems to your business’s needs and teaching Excel, Tina’s well-positioned to help you strengthen your business’s heartbeat by finding efficiencies and errors most others overlook.

Main Topics Covered:

• The sudden and traumatic loss of Tina’s husband in her early thirties and the immediate aftermath.
• Navigating grief, loneliness, and the loss of her stepchildren due to a high-conflict stepfamily dynamic.
• The challenges of social support, workplace misunderstandings, and rebuilding a sense of community.
• How Tina redefined her self-worth, learned to accept joy, and embraced the courage to thrive—not just survive.
• Practical tools Tina used to process grief: gratitude journaling, reading, and gradually re-engaging with joy through everyday moments and new adventures.
• Tina’s journey to entrepreneurship and her philosophy of having fun with both life and work.

Quote from the Episode: "I always heard 'you’re lucky to be alive' growing up... So you don’t deserve happiness, to thrive, to be abundant, to whatever. And didn’t know that. I incorporated that into my whole life. You’re alive, what more should you want? But it took me decades to realize: I deserve more than just breathing." — Tina Palmgren

Timestamps: [00:00:05] Welcome & intros; where Tina calls home

[00:01:34] Tina’s marriage, stepchildren, and blended family background

[00:04:41] Sudden loss: Tina’s husband’s heart attack and hospital days

[00:07:05] The experience and aftermath of being widowed young

[00:10:00] Losing connection with stepchildren and facing isolation

[00:13:59] Family support, changes in communication, and small moments of laughter

[00:14:50] Finding the courage to re-engage with life and social circles

[00:20:12] From just surviving to thriving—defining what joy means

[00:27:39] Practical healing: gratitude, reading, and faith

[00:35:08] Starting her own business and embracing fun at work

[00:36:37] Special offer, favorite books, and closing thoughts on travel and happiness

Special Offer from the Guest: The Fortune Follow Up System

Special Podcast Sale: $222

Link to purchase: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z5SSTGB93LUSA

Note from the show: Guest offers are often limited-time and limited quantity. If you have an issue redeeming the guest offer, please reach out to the guest or vendor directly.

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