In this deeply moving episode, we explore grief, radical acceptance, the courage to rebuild identity, and what it truly means to find purpose on the path you never planned.
In this episode of Broken Beautiful Me, Kelly sits down with Laura Bratton — author, speaker, coach, and founder of UB Global. Diagnosed with a progressive eye disease at just nine years old, Laura spent her teenage years navigating the devastating emotional reality of losing her sight entirely — going from legally blind to completely blind between ninth and twelfth grade, with no timeline, no formal diagnosis, and no roadmap.
What looked like the end of the life she had imagined became, over time, the foundation for an extraordinary one. Laura went on to graduate from Arizona State University with a BA in Psychology, and became the first blind student to receive a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the author of Harnessing Courage and dedicates her life to coaching and speaking for people navigating grief, loss, and radical life change.
Her message is not about overcoming blindness. It is about the universal human experience of rebuilding yourself from pieces — and discovering that those pieces hold more strength than you ever knew.
In this episode, Laura shares:
🪟 What it was like to lose her sight gradually as a teenager with no timeline and no answers
💔 Why the hardest part wasn't learning new skills — it was believing she was still worthy
🧠 The three steps she used to rebuild confidence and that she now teaches others
🤝 Why receiving support isn't weakness — and why she specifically uses the word trust
😡 The difference between validating sadness and validating anger — and why anger is the harder one
📖 How writing Harnessing Courage was simultaneously healing and deeply painful
🙏 Why gratitude is her anchor — and what real, grounded gratitude actually looks like
🐕 The profound grief of losing her guide dogs — and how they were literally her eyes
✨ The moment she chose courage — sitting alone on a bed in San Francisco, 18 years old, 3,000 miles from home
🌱 Why purpose is rarely found on the path you planned — but on the one you're forced to walk
Kelly also shares beautifully personal reflections on her own grief journey — including the day she was grateful simply for making it to the mailbox without breaking down.
Her message is clear: you are worthy even in all the pieces.
A tender, honest, and quietly powerful conversation about loss, identity, courage, and the daily choice to keep going.
🎁 Free Resource from Laura — Harnessing Courage Available at: https://laurabratton.com
Follow Laura Bratton
🌐 Website: https://laurabratton.com 📚 Book: Harnessing Courage — available at laurabratton.com 🎤 Speaking & Coaching: https://laurabratton.com
About Your Host
Kelly Buckley is a trauma life coach, speaker, and the heart behind Broken Beautiful Me — a podcast dedicated to stories of hope, gratitude, and resilience.
🌐 https://www.kellybuckley.com