Miranda Ryan
@mirandaryan.bsky.social
Grief advocate. Overdose widow. Bird nerd. Word game fan. Writer.
Writing and working to support grievers, reduce stigma around substance use death, and other hard things.
https://mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/
Writing and working to support grievers, reduce stigma around substance use death, and other hard things.
https://mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day.
Awareness days are strange. People who are all TOO aware try to reach those who likely think “that’s not for me”.
Before Mike died I had a vague awareness of IOAD, but I thought it wasn’t for me…
mirandaryan.co/what-overdos...
#IOAD2025 #endoverdose
Awareness days are strange. People who are all TOO aware try to reach those who likely think “that’s not for me”.
Before Mike died I had a vague awareness of IOAD, but I thought it wasn’t for me…
mirandaryan.co/what-overdos...
#IOAD2025 #endoverdose
What 'Overdose' Means to me as an Overdose Widow
How my relationship to the word 'overdose' has shifted as I unpacked stigma. I used to not connect with the word overdose due to linguistic reasons, but this has shifted.
mirandaryan.co
August 31, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day.
Awareness days are strange. People who are all TOO aware try to reach those who likely think “that’s not for me”.
Before Mike died I had a vague awareness of IOAD, but I thought it wasn’t for me…
mirandaryan.co/what-overdos...
#IOAD2025 #endoverdose
Awareness days are strange. People who are all TOO aware try to reach those who likely think “that’s not for me”.
Before Mike died I had a vague awareness of IOAD, but I thought it wasn’t for me…
mirandaryan.co/what-overdos...
#IOAD2025 #endoverdose
Ahead of Overdose Awareness Day this Sunday I share about shame.
Shame has such a powerful impact on substance use and can result in using alone which can be a contributing factor in many deaths. It was in Mike’s. Let's talk about it.
mirandaryan.co/shame-and-ov...
#IOAD2025 #EndOverdose
Shame has such a powerful impact on substance use and can result in using alone which can be a contributing factor in many deaths. It was in Mike’s. Let's talk about it.
mirandaryan.co/shame-and-ov...
#IOAD2025 #EndOverdose
Shame and Overdose Deaths - Miranda Ryan | Writer and Grief Advocate
I didn't know I should have been worried about overdose. Shame is powerful. It thrives in secrecy. And the antidote to shame is sharing in safe spaces.
mirandaryan.co
August 29, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Ahead of Overdose Awareness Day this Sunday I share about shame.
Shame has such a powerful impact on substance use and can result in using alone which can be a contributing factor in many deaths. It was in Mike’s. Let's talk about it.
mirandaryan.co/shame-and-ov...
#IOAD2025 #EndOverdose
Shame has such a powerful impact on substance use and can result in using alone which can be a contributing factor in many deaths. It was in Mike’s. Let's talk about it.
mirandaryan.co/shame-and-ov...
#IOAD2025 #EndOverdose
My latest creative nonfiction piece is up and my brand new website!
"Grief Forecast: The July Ache
Be prepared for localized storms this season..."
Would love to hear what you think!
mirandaryan.co/grief-foreca...
"Grief Forecast: The July Ache
Be prepared for localized storms this season..."
Would love to hear what you think!
mirandaryan.co/grief-foreca...
Grief Forecast: The July Ache - Miranda Ryan | Writer and Grief Advocate
Be prepared for localized storms this grief season. Learn to spot the warning symptoms of heart exhaustion, intrusive thought pressure systems, and grief storm triggers.
mirandaryan.co
July 25, 2025 at 4:25 PM
My latest creative nonfiction piece is up and my brand new website!
"Grief Forecast: The July Ache
Be prepared for localized storms this season..."
Would love to hear what you think!
mirandaryan.co/grief-foreca...
"Grief Forecast: The July Ache
Be prepared for localized storms this season..."
Would love to hear what you think!
mirandaryan.co/grief-foreca...
I always notice how low my resilience is in the lead up to Michael’s death anniversary. Driving to work I was waiting to turn onto a busy road & missed a small gap. A car behind me honked & I just about burst into tears.
A good reminder we never know what someone else is going through #bekind
A good reminder we never know what someone else is going through #bekind
July 15, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I always notice how low my resilience is in the lead up to Michael’s death anniversary. Driving to work I was waiting to turn onto a busy road & missed a small gap. A car behind me honked & I just about burst into tears.
A good reminder we never know what someone else is going through #bekind
A good reminder we never know what someone else is going through #bekind
Reposted by Miranda Ryan
Take a few moments in your day to read this It’s a gentle, creative look at grief, healing and connection .. simple, heartfelt, and very memorable.
So happy to see my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" out in the world. I’d love to hear what you think!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Miranda Ryan won third place in the CNFC-The Fiddlehead CNF contest this year. Read her essay, “How to Befriend a Crow”, now published in the CNFC website: creativenonfictioncollective.ca/cnf-contest/...
July 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Take a few moments in your day to read this It’s a gentle, creative look at grief, healing and connection .. simple, heartfelt, and very memorable.
Reposted by Miranda Ryan
Congratulations, Miranda! 🎉 @mirandaryan.bsky.social
Miranda Ryan won third place in the CNFC-The Fiddlehead CNF contest this year. Read her essay, “How to Befriend a Crow”, now published in the CNFC website: creativenonfictioncollective.ca/cnf-contest/...
July 9, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Congratulations, Miranda! 🎉 @mirandaryan.bsky.social
So happy to see my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" out in the world. I’d love to hear what you think!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Miranda Ryan won third place in the CNFC-The Fiddlehead CNF contest this year. Read her essay, “How to Befriend a Crow”, now published in the CNFC website: creativenonfictioncollective.ca/cnf-contest/...
July 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
So happy to see my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" out in the world. I’d love to hear what you think!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Thank you @cnfc.bsky.social @fiddlehd.bsky.social @dannyramadan.com for all the work on this contest!
Reposted by Miranda Ryan
Respect the hiss ..
July 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Respect the hiss ..
The death of a partner is so much more than one person dying. It has an enormous impact on every aspect of life and can result in many secondary, often unseen, losses.
Here I share some of the secondary losses in grief ...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/secondary-... #widow
Here I share some of the secondary losses in grief ...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/secondary-... #widow
Secondary Losses in Grief
Shining a light on additional unseen losses caused by partner death
open.substack.com
June 30, 2025 at 11:16 PM
The death of a partner is so much more than one person dying. It has an enormous impact on every aspect of life and can result in many secondary, often unseen, losses.
Here I share some of the secondary losses in grief ...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/secondary-... #widow
Here I share some of the secondary losses in grief ...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/secondary-... #widow
It breaks my heart to see the overdose rate increase dramatically in my home country, Australia.
"...overdose deaths were preventable and the high numbers of these deaths each year highlighted the need for a national overdose strategy that focused more on harm reduction and less on policing"
Same!
"...overdose deaths were preventable and the high numbers of these deaths each year highlighted the need for a national overdose strategy that focused more on harm reduction and less on policing"
Same!
June 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
It breaks my heart to see the overdose rate increase dramatically in my home country, Australia.
"...overdose deaths were preventable and the high numbers of these deaths each year highlighted the need for a national overdose strategy that focused more on harm reduction and less on policing"
Same!
"...overdose deaths were preventable and the high numbers of these deaths each year highlighted the need for a national overdose strategy that focused more on harm reduction and less on policing"
Same!
Sharing this keynote address from Lisa Lapointe at the @momsstoptheharm.bsky.social AGM. If you’re interested in understanding the opioid crisis, this is a great summary.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puxs...
So many key takeaways, with the focus on tackling this issue as a health one, not a moral one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puxs...
So many key takeaways, with the focus on tackling this issue as a health one, not a moral one.
Lisa Lapointe - Keynote Speaker at Moms Stop the Harm AGM
YouTube video by Moms Stop The Harm
www.youtube.com
June 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Sharing this keynote address from Lisa Lapointe at the @momsstoptheharm.bsky.social AGM. If you’re interested in understanding the opioid crisis, this is a great summary.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puxs...
So many key takeaways, with the focus on tackling this issue as a health one, not a moral one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Puxs...
So many key takeaways, with the focus on tackling this issue as a health one, not a moral one.
This is my only “must view” content every Friday.
Spoiler: the dogs were good again this week!
Spoiler: the dogs were good again this week!
June 6, 2025 at 9:15 PM
This is my only “must view” content every Friday.
Spoiler: the dogs were good again this week!
Spoiler: the dogs were good again this week!
New post up about Little Patch, the grey whale who has captured the hearts of locals in Vancouver.
"Observing a whale, or indeed anything in nature has a way of grounding me. It’s hard to be too sad when watching a whale splash around just offshore."
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/little-pat...
"Observing a whale, or indeed anything in nature has a way of grounding me. It’s hard to be too sad when watching a whale splash around just offshore."
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/little-pat...
Little Patch Brings Big Joy
How a whale reminded me of the importance of joy and awe in grief
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com
May 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
New post up about Little Patch, the grey whale who has captured the hearts of locals in Vancouver.
"Observing a whale, or indeed anything in nature has a way of grounding me. It’s hard to be too sad when watching a whale splash around just offshore."
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/little-pat...
"Observing a whale, or indeed anything in nature has a way of grounding me. It’s hard to be too sad when watching a whale splash around just offshore."
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/little-pat...
I'm in a group chat with 2,701 random strangers with the sole focus of sharing where we see Little Patch, the gray whale.
I spied him yesterday because of this group. It tickles me to know we're just a bunch of silly humans finding joy from looking for his spouts and spotting him. #littlepatch
I spied him yesterday because of this group. It tickles me to know we're just a bunch of silly humans finding joy from looking for his spouts and spotting him. #littlepatch
May 6, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I'm in a group chat with 2,701 random strangers with the sole focus of sharing where we see Little Patch, the gray whale.
I spied him yesterday because of this group. It tickles me to know we're just a bunch of silly humans finding joy from looking for his spouts and spotting him. #littlepatch
I spied him yesterday because of this group. It tickles me to know we're just a bunch of silly humans finding joy from looking for his spouts and spotting him. #littlepatch
I’m truly delighted, humbled and honoured to have been awarded third place in the 2025 CNFC-The Fiddlehead Creative Nonfiction Contest!
Congratulations also to Karen Moore & Sheila Martineau!
I'm looking forward to sharing my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" and reading the other winners work.
Congratulations also to Karen Moore & Sheila Martineau!
I'm looking forward to sharing my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" and reading the other winners work.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 CNFC-The Fiddlehead Creative Nonfiction Contest!
May 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I’m truly delighted, humbled and honoured to have been awarded third place in the 2025 CNFC-The Fiddlehead Creative Nonfiction Contest!
Congratulations also to Karen Moore & Sheila Martineau!
I'm looking forward to sharing my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" and reading the other winners work.
Congratulations also to Karen Moore & Sheila Martineau!
I'm looking forward to sharing my piece "How to Befriend a Crow" and reading the other winners work.
"What does it mean to leave a finite, fragile life in an infinite, eternal universe?"
Zooming out like this always gives me a moment of peace. In case you need that too.
Zooming out like this always gives me a moment of peace. In case you need that too.
We are the cosmos made conscious and life is the means by which the universe understands itself.
- Prof. Brian Cox
- Prof. Brian Cox
April 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
"What does it mean to leave a finite, fragile life in an infinite, eternal universe?"
Zooming out like this always gives me a moment of peace. In case you need that too.
Zooming out like this always gives me a moment of peace. In case you need that too.
I attended a memorial service for the 16,500+ people have died to the opioid crisis since 2016 in BC.
They tolled the church bell once for every 500 people lost. It rang 33 times.
It was moving to listen to in community & made me wish for more grief rituals. Do you have any grief rituals?
They tolled the church bell once for every 500 people lost. It rang 33 times.
It was moving to listen to in community & made me wish for more grief rituals. Do you have any grief rituals?
April 16, 2025 at 9:18 PM
I attended a memorial service for the 16,500+ people have died to the opioid crisis since 2016 in BC.
They tolled the church bell once for every 500 people lost. It rang 33 times.
It was moving to listen to in community & made me wish for more grief rituals. Do you have any grief rituals?
They tolled the church bell once for every 500 people lost. It rang 33 times.
It was moving to listen to in community & made me wish for more grief rituals. Do you have any grief rituals?
I’m thrilled to share I'm on the short list for the 2025 CNFC-The Fiddlehead creative nonfiction contest!
Congratulations to fellow writers Codi Darnell, Tamara Kramer, Sheila Martineau & Karen Moore! It’s an honour to be on this list.
Congratulations to fellow writers Codi Darnell, Tamara Kramer, Sheila Martineau & Karen Moore! It’s an honour to be on this list.
Congratulations to the CNFC-The Fiddlehead Contest Shortlist! Learn more about the writers here: creativenonfictioncollective.ca/cnf-contest/
April 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I’m thrilled to share I'm on the short list for the 2025 CNFC-The Fiddlehead creative nonfiction contest!
Congratulations to fellow writers Codi Darnell, Tamara Kramer, Sheila Martineau & Karen Moore! It’s an honour to be on this list.
Congratulations to fellow writers Codi Darnell, Tamara Kramer, Sheila Martineau & Karen Moore! It’s an honour to be on this list.
Also, I love with all my new branding design elements, especially my wee hummingbird brand mark!
Huge thanks to @heidiglasson.bsky.social for all the amazing work! Get at her if you're in need of a branding & design wizard!
Huge thanks to @heidiglasson.bsky.social for all the amazing work! Get at her if you're in need of a branding & design wizard!
April 12, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Also, I love with all my new branding design elements, especially my wee hummingbird brand mark!
Huge thanks to @heidiglasson.bsky.social for all the amazing work! Get at her if you're in need of a branding & design wizard!
Huge thanks to @heidiglasson.bsky.social for all the amazing work! Get at her if you're in need of a branding & design wizard!
Sharing my latest post ahead of this Monday’s 9th anniversary of B.C.'s opioid crisis public health emergency.
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
April 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Sharing my latest post ahead of this Monday’s 9th anniversary of B.C.'s opioid crisis public health emergency.
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
Today on Substack I "review" a "book" with the worst ending “Shuttle Driver & Office Girl”.
Sharing this ahead of the upcoming 9th anniversary of B.C.'s #opioidcrisis public health emergency on April 14th.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
Sharing this ahead of the upcoming 9th anniversary of B.C.'s #opioidcrisis public health emergency on April 14th.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
Book Review: Shuttle Driver & Office Girl
1 Star – Do Not Recommend
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com
April 12, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Today on Substack I "review" a "book" with the worst ending “Shuttle Driver & Office Girl”.
Sharing this ahead of the upcoming 9th anniversary of B.C.'s #opioidcrisis public health emergency on April 14th.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
Sharing this ahead of the upcoming 9th anniversary of B.C.'s #opioidcrisis public health emergency on April 14th.
Would love to hear your thoughts!
mirandaryanwrites.substack.com/p/book-revie...
Reposted by Miranda Ryan
The toxic drug crisis in CND is a public health emergency, with 50,000+ deaths since 2016. The unregulated drug supply, contaminated with fentanyl and other substances, worsened by stigma, criminalization, and lack of harm reduction services, demands urgent action.
www.cpha.ca/toxic-drugs
www.cpha.ca/toxic-drugs
The Toxic Drug Crisis in Canada | Canadian Public Health Association
www.cpha.ca
April 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The toxic drug crisis in CND is a public health emergency, with 50,000+ deaths since 2016. The unregulated drug supply, contaminated with fentanyl and other substances, worsened by stigma, criminalization, and lack of harm reduction services, demands urgent action.
www.cpha.ca/toxic-drugs
www.cpha.ca/toxic-drugs
Reposted by Miranda Ryan
Grief is not a purely negative emotion. Over time, sadness is joined by love and gratitude.
The purpose of grief is not to cause pain. It's to keep memories of loved ones alive and remind us to make the most of our time.
Moving forward is not about erasing sorrow. It's about gaining perspective.
The purpose of grief is not to cause pain. It's to keep memories of loved ones alive and remind us to make the most of our time.
Moving forward is not about erasing sorrow. It's about gaining perspective.
March 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Grief is not a purely negative emotion. Over time, sadness is joined by love and gratitude.
The purpose of grief is not to cause pain. It's to keep memories of loved ones alive and remind us to make the most of our time.
Moving forward is not about erasing sorrow. It's about gaining perspective.
The purpose of grief is not to cause pain. It's to keep memories of loved ones alive and remind us to make the most of our time.
Moving forward is not about erasing sorrow. It's about gaining perspective.
Looking for follow recommendations please! Anything interesting is welcome, especially dog content!
I am also interested in science, TV/film, comedy, word games, puzzles, nature, animals, birds, self development, psychology, grief, politics and did I mention dogs?
I am also interested in science, TV/film, comedy, word games, puzzles, nature, animals, birds, self development, psychology, grief, politics and did I mention dogs?
March 28, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Looking for follow recommendations please! Anything interesting is welcome, especially dog content!
I am also interested in science, TV/film, comedy, word games, puzzles, nature, animals, birds, self development, psychology, grief, politics and did I mention dogs?
I am also interested in science, TV/film, comedy, word games, puzzles, nature, animals, birds, self development, psychology, grief, politics and did I mention dogs?
I set this account up a while ago and forgot to introduce myself!
I'm a grief advocate, overdose widow, & cancer survivor. I write about my experience with young widowhood; the complications of stigmatizing loss; how to support grievers; and the importance of acknowledging hard stuff.
I'm a grief advocate, overdose widow, & cancer survivor. I write about my experience with young widowhood; the complications of stigmatizing loss; how to support grievers; and the importance of acknowledging hard stuff.
March 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
I set this account up a while ago and forgot to introduce myself!
I'm a grief advocate, overdose widow, & cancer survivor. I write about my experience with young widowhood; the complications of stigmatizing loss; how to support grievers; and the importance of acknowledging hard stuff.
I'm a grief advocate, overdose widow, & cancer survivor. I write about my experience with young widowhood; the complications of stigmatizing loss; how to support grievers; and the importance of acknowledging hard stuff.