Inspiring Conversations with Sadaff Khan of Light of Grief

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sadaff Khan.

Hi Sadaff , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Family has always been at the center of my life. Before starting Light of Grief, I worked in account management and business development, building my career while also embracing the many roles I held within my family. In July 2019, I became a mom to my daughter, Ayla, and motherhood brought an entirely new meaning to my life. I was balancing my career, being a wife, a daughter, and a mother, and like most people, navigating all the everyday things that come with life.

I never imagined how much my world would change.

In April 2022, I lost my son, Azan. Within six months, I also lost my dad. Two incredibly important people in my life, gone within such a short period of time. When family is everything to you, losses like that shake you to your core. It’s difficult to explain what it feels like to lose a child and a parent so close together. I was grieving my son while also trying to process losing my dad, all while continuing to show up for my daughter and the responsibilities of everyday life.

It’s something I still navigate every single day.

Grief has a way of changing your perspective on just about everything. Things that once seemed important don’t always hold the same weight, and you begin to see life, relationships, and time differently. I also learned how lonely grief can feel, even when you have people around you who genuinely care. Not everyone knows how to support someone who’s grieving, and sometimes even you don’t know what you need.

As I navigated my own grief, I began connecting with others who had experienced loss. I realized how many people were carrying their own stories, often quietly, and how much we need spaces where we can simply be ourselves without having to explain, minimize, or justify what we’re feeling.

That became the inspiration behind Light of Grief, a nonprofit I co-founded to create opportunities for connection, support, and healing through community.

I didn’t start Light of Grief because I had figured out how to navigate loss. Quite the opposite. I’m still learning every day. But I knew how much it meant to feel seen, understood, and supported, and I wanted to help create more opportunities for others to experience that.

Today, we’re building a community through gatherings, wellness experiences, grief education, and partnerships with people who genuinely care about supporting others. We’ve introduced experiences such as yoga nidra, equine-assisted activities, meditation, and sound healing, offering different ways for people to connect with themselves and one another.

Building a nonprofit has been an entirely new experience for me. My background in account management and business development has certainly helped with relationship-building and partnerships, but there’s still so much I’m learning about running an organization, fundraising, and creating programs that are both meaningful and sustainable.

There have been challenges, and there are days when balancing my personal life, motherhood, grief, and the nonprofit feels overwhelming. But I also feel incredibly grateful for the people I’ve connected with along the way and the conversations that remind me why I started.

My hope is to continue growing Light of Grief into a community resource where people can find connection, education, and support through different seasons of grief, regardless of the type of loss they’ve experienced.

I don’t believe grief is something we simply get over. I believe we learn to live alongside it. There can still be laughter, love, joy, and new experiences, even while deeply missing the people who are no longer physically with us.

I’m still figuring out what this next chapter of life looks like, both personally and professionally. But one thing I know is that the love I have for my son and my dad will always be part of who I am and what I do.

Light of Grief is one of the ways I continue carrying that love forward.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. I think it’s safe to say this has been one of the most challenging chapters of my life, both personally and professionally.

Losing my son and my dad within six months of each other changed so much for me. Grief isn’t something that follows a schedule, and it certainly doesn’t make exceptions for the responsibilities you still have. There are days when I’m doing well, and then there are days when the smallest thing can bring everything right back to the surface. All while still being a mom, managing a household, maintaining relationships, and trying to find my footing again.

One of the biggest struggles has been learning how to show up for life when parts of my heart are still grieving. There’s this expectation, whether spoken or unspoken, that eventually you should be doing better or moving forward. But grief doesn’t work that way. You can be genuinely happy in one moment and deeply sad in the next. I’ve had to learn to give myself grace with that.

Starting Light of Grief has brought its own challenges. I came into this with a background in business development and account management, not nonprofit management. While some of those skills have been helpful, building an organization from the ground up is an entirely different experience.

Funding is an ongoing challenge, as is finding the right people who believe in the mission and have the time and commitment to help it grow. There’s also the reality of trying to reach people who could benefit from what we’re offering. Grief is such a personal experience, and not everyone is ready to walk into a gathering or connect with others. Sometimes you put your heart into planning something and only a few people attend. It can be discouraging, especially when you know how much thought and care went into creating that space.

But I’m learning that impact doesn’t always look like a room full of people. Sometimes it’s one meaningful conversation, one person feeling comfortable enough to share their story, or someone leaving a gathering feeling a little less alone. Those moments matter just as much.

I’ve also had to recognize my own limits. I’m someone who naturally wants to do a lot, and when you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to take on more than you realistically have the capacity for. Learning to slow down, ask for help, and understand that I don’t have to build everything overnight has been a challenge in itself.

And through all of this, I’m still navigating my own grief. There are times when the work feels incredibly meaningful and other times when it brings me close to emotions I’m already carrying. Finding a balance between supporting others and taking care of myself is something I’m continuing to learn.

I don’t want to paint a picture that this journey has been easy or that I’ve turned my grief into something positive and everything is okay now. That’s not my reality. I would give anything to have my son and my dad here.

But I also know that I can continue loving and missing them while creating something meaningful in their honor.

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that progress doesn’t always happen in big, noticeable ways. Sometimes it’s simply continuing to show up, even when things are hard, and trusting that the small steps are still moving you forward.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Light of Grief?
Light of Grief is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Orange County, California, dedicated to creating compassionate spaces for people navigating grief and loss.

Our mission is rooted in a simple belief: no one should have to navigate grief alone.

Grief is something every one of us will experience at some point, yet it’s still a topic that so many people are uncomfortable talking about. And grief isn’t limited to the death of a loved one. It can come from so many different life experiences, including changes in relationships, health, identity, or the future you once imagined.

At Light of Grief, we’re working to change how people experience and understand grief by bringing connection, education, and community support together.

One of the things that sets us apart is our approach. We recognize that grief looks different for everyone, and traditional support groups or talk therapy aren’t necessarily what everyone is looking for. While those resources are incredibly valuable, we also believe there should be other ways for people to connect with themselves and others.

Through our Held gathering series, we’ve introduced experiences such as yoga nidra, equine-assisted activities, meditation, sound healing, and remembrance gatherings. These experiences offer opportunities to slow down, connect, reflect, and simply be present, without any pressure to share your story or participate in a particular way.

We’re also building educational resources, developing partnerships with wellness practitioners and community organizations, and working toward expanding access to grief support. One initiative we’re developing is our Held in Care Fund, intended to provide funeral assistance to families experiencing financial hardship during an already difficult time.

What I’m especially proud of is the environment we’re creating. We don’t measure the value of a gathering solely by how many people attend. Some of our most meaningful moments have happened in very small groups, where people felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable, connect, or simply sit quietly alongside someone who understands.

I also want Light of Grief to be a welcoming place for people from different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. Grief is universal, but the way we experience and express it can be deeply personal and influenced by so many things. There’s no single right way to grieve.

Looking ahead, my vision is to grow Light of Grief into a sustainable community resource, eventually creating a physical space where people can access grief education, supportive gatherings, wellness experiences, and connections to trusted professionals and resources.

We’re still a growing organization, and there’s a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe meaningful change starts with creating opportunities for people to feel seen and supported.

More than anything, I want people to know that Light of Grief isn’t about fixing grief, finding closure, or telling anyone how they should heal. It’s about making room for grief as part of life, while reminding people that connection, love, and moments of joy can still exist alongside it.

You can learn more about our work, upcoming gatherings, and ways to support our mission at www.lightofgrief.com.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Family has always been at the center of my happiness. Being a mom to my daughter, Ayla, is one of my greatest joys. Watching her grow, hearing her laugh, experiencing new things together, and creating memories are moments I truly cherish.

I also love dancing and fitness. I’m always interested in trying something new and finding different ways to challenge myself, whether that’s physically or personally. There’s something about movement that makes me feel good, clears my mind, and brings me back to myself.

Traveling is another big one for me. I love exploring new places, experiencing different cultures, meeting people, and seeing how others live. I think there’s so much we can learn when we step outside of what’s familiar.

And as much as I love being active and exploring, I equally love a good day on the couch binge-watching a TV series and doing absolutely nothing! Sometimes that’s exactly what I need.

Since losing my son and my dad, my relationship with happiness has definitely changed. I’ve learned to appreciate the smaller, everyday moments more deeply. Happiness doesn’t mean life is perfect or that the sadness goes away. I’ve come to understand that joy and grief can coexist, and allowing myself to enjoy life doesn’t take away from the love I have for those I’ve lost.

Ultimately, what makes me happiest is spending time with people I love, making memories, experiencing life, and finding reasons to laugh along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lightofgrief.com
• Instagram: @lightofgrief
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightofgrief
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/light-of-grief/