Through the years and the tears, I’ve learned that confidence isn’t just about standing tall sometimes it’s about standing at all when the world feels like it’s collapsing in on itself.
And this week… the world has felt heavy.
Before I go any further, a trigger warning:
This piece discusses the violent death of a tradeswoman.
If this is not something you want or need to read right now, please take care of yourself and stop here. Your safety — emotional, mental, physical — comes first. Always.
Just Say Something. Just Do Something.
When I sat down to write my weekly blog, I didn’t feel ready. I didn’t feel steady.
But one sentence kept coming back to me:
Just say something.
Just do something.
So, this blog isn’t polished. It isn’t planned.
It’s simply honest.
Because last Tuesday — the 11th of November — the trades community lost a young woman named Amber Chech, a 20-year-old welder, who went to work and never made it home.
She was struck in the head with a sledgehammer by a co-worker. Multiple times.
Typing those words breaks something in me.
And it isn’t the first time I’ve felt this heartbreak.
Amber. Outi. And All the Others We Never Hear About.
The first time I learned of something like this happening to a tradeswoman was in 2017.
Her name was Outi — a Black tradeswoman, a lesbian woman, a single mother — who was beaten and killed by a co-worker.
Two women.
Years apart.
Different states.
Different backgrounds.
And yet the story feels hauntingly the same.
I know there are stories we never hear.
Stories that get buried.
Stories families don’t speak about.
Stories workplaces don’t share because of “reputation.”
And that truth alone can make the world feel unbearably heavy.
When the Bad Feels Overwhelming
If you are someone who cares deeply, leads with empathy, or tries to make the world better — moments like this can be paralysing.
I’ve felt that paralysis.
That urge to pull the blankets over your head and hide.
That thought of: What’s the point?
Because bad news doesn’t come alone — it piles on.
Domestic violence.
Suicide rates in construction.
Racism.
Homophobia.
What’s happening in Afghanistan.
What’s happening in Gaza.
It feels endless.
And when you care, it hurts.
You Are Allowed to Turn Away — And You Are Allowed to Act
One thing I want to say clearly:
You are not required to carry the weight of the whole world.
You are allowed to put on blinders.
You are allowed to focus on one issue.
You are allowed to choose where your energy goes.
There will always be someone saying,
“What about this?”
“You forgot to mention that.”
“You should also speak on…”
But no one can fight every battle.
No one can hold every pain.
No one can be an expert in every injustice.
And there is nothing wrong with choosing your lane so you can move.
My Lane: Tradeswomen. Safety. Boundaries. Support.
My lived experience — the place I can make the biggest impact — is supporting tradeswomen.
Helping them stay safe.
Helping them set boundaries.
Helping them find happiness and pride in their work.
That is my lane.
That is where I can do the best.
That is where I can create change.
And I find comfort knowing that in every other lane, there are people doing their part too:
• People working to reduce construction worker suicide.
• People helping women escape domestic violence.
• People helping men escape domestic violence.
• People fighting racism and homophobia.
• People building better workplaces and better leaders.
There is good work happening everywhere — even when it’s hard to see it.
If You’re Feeling Paralysed
If this story, or any story, has left you feeling frozen, grief-stricken, overwhelmed, or hopeless… you’re not alone.
I feel it too.
Here are a few thoughts that might help you move, even if only slightly:
1. Just do something.
Not everything. Not the perfect thing.
Just something small.
2. Focus on what you can do well.
Your lived experience matters.
Your lane matters.
3. Take space if you need it.
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule.
Let yourself feel it.
4. Reach out if the weight is too much.
You deserve support — from a friend, a counsellor, a coach, anyone safe.
5. Ask one question first:
“Are you safe right now?”
Whether you’re supporting yourself or someone else — safety is the baseline for everything.
My DMs Are Open
If you need to vent, word-dump, or just spill whatever your heart is holding:
My Instagram is louiseazzopardicoaching
You can also message me through my website.
If I don’t reply immediately, it’s only because I want to respond with a clear mind and open heart — and you deserve that.
And if you want to act but don’t know where to start, I’m here.
You can book a coaching consult with me or simply message me and say:
“I want to do something, but I don’t know what.”
We can figure it out together.
There Is Still Good in the World
It might be hard to see right now.
It might feel overshadowed.
But it’s still there.
People still help.
People still care.
People still fight for each other.
And the fact that you’re reading this tells me you are one of those people too.
My Belief in You
If you don’t believe in yourself right now…
If you feel helpless or angry or heartbroken…
Please borrow my belief in you.
I believe you can get through this.
I believe you can make a difference — even if it’s small, even if it’s quiet.
I believe you can feel this grief and still move forward.
Cry if you need to.
Yell if you need to (with consent).
Journal angrily.
Eat comfort food for a week.
Do whatever helps you process.
I know you can make it through.
I really do.
Just Say Something. Just Do Something.
That’s how I wrote this.
That’s how I recorded the podcast.
That’s how I’m taking the next step.
And maybe — just maybe — that’s how you can take yours too.
Stay safe.
Look after yourself.
And if you need someone to believe in you, I’m here.
If you’re a tradeswoman or tradesperson who’d like some help navigating this journey, I’d love to chat. You can book a coaching consultation with me here:
https://calendly.com/louise-azzopardi/coaching_consult
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