Meet Melanie Clark

We were lucky to catch up with Melanie Clark recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melanie, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

The death of my husband was tragic and unexpected.
His death rocked our family to its core.
I learned that depending on support from friends and family was necessary during that time.
I couldn’t bear the weight of my grief and our children’s grief alone.
I relied on a good doctor for advice and medicine along with a counselor who had specialized experience with grief and trauma patients.
Counseling for me has lasted years and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made over the years.
My faith also helped me through my darkest moments and gave me strength to move forward.
My grief and my love for Brad will never go away but choosing to find healthy ways to cope have definitely aided in my journey to healing.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

Melanie Clark- Bio

Over the past 6 years since Brad’s death, Melanie has made it her life’s mission to carry on his legacy. She has left a career in dental administration to focus on highway safety awareness within the fire service, to change and enhance Move Over laws in Virginia and to raise awareness to both citizens and visitors.

She has gone from someone who would be described as quiet, especially compared to her VERY outspoken husband, to someone who cannot be silenced. On any given day, you can find Melanie at the Virginia State House meeting with lawmakers or being interviewed for a TV or newspaper story, speaking in front of public safety professionals at conferences to include: FDIC International, Texas Fire Chiefs, Drive Smart Virginia, and Virginia Occupational Safety and Health just to name a few. She also works closely with Tunnel to Towers Foundation, who came to her aid in the early days after Brad’s death.

Recently she launched Move Over Va Facebook and instagram pages to educate motorist and to further raise awareness to the Move Over law and the devastating consequences for failing to comply with the law.

While simultaneously grieving the loss of her soulmate, she has transformed herself, rising to the challenge to change the law, it’s enforcement and can now see a vision she believes God has set for her future to press forward.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Self care is essential
It’s ok to Not be okay,
Rely on the people that bring you happiness.
Moving forward doesn’t mean you leave your beloved family behind while healing.
You’ll never be over the loss of your loved one but you’ll learn to live with the loss.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

I feel every year that passes I grow in some capacity.
As time lengthens since Brad’s death I’ve learned to place boundaries around my life.
I realize time is ones greatest asset so I’d rather send my time wisely investing in projects or people that aid in my personal growth.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: Moveovervirginia
• Linkedin: Move_over_virginia

Image Credits

Justin Ide photography took the iconic license plate picture of Brad.
He has given our family permission to use.