Welcome to our Blog
Whether you’ve been widowed six months or six years, the grief and pain of losing a spouse or partner never goes away. Join me as I share my own story and those of others from the young and widowed community. Let me know what topics hit close to home, which posts you draw strength from or how you’ve been inspired to keep moving through the overwhelming pain. It’s a place where you’ll always feel connected, knowing there are other young widows and widowers across the globe who understand the many emotions that come with being young and widowed.
Navigating Grief with Grace: Common Missteps and Compassionate Support
Here are some common mistakes people make when trying to comfort someone who is grieving: Saying, "I know how you feel": While you may have experienced grief yourself, every individual's grief is unique. Comparing their grief to your own can diminish their feelings...
The Intricate Dance Between Love & Loss
I often reflect on the person I used to be - the life I shared with my late spouse. It's strange how it feels like a distant universe, almost alien. But then, in an instant, the pain of his absence hits me to my core, and I’m reminded of the gravity of my loss. ...
A Letter to My Newly Widowed Self
Your world fell apart with one phone call. You heard the words no one ever wants to hear. Words that were never to be part of your happily ever after. I wish the person I am today could go back and hold you. I wish I could tell you that you’ll eventually see the light...
The Power of Connections
My family and friends were my rock when my spouse died. They showed up for me every step of the way – from being there as I made funeral arrangements to offering words of encouragement on my darkest days. But, no matter how supportive they were, I never felt safe...
Life After Loss – Tips for Navigating the Journey
The alarm blared around me, but in my little piece of the world, there was complete silence. I was alone with my thoughts in the cocoon of my bathtub, my only place of solace and solitude. I’d gotten the call the day prior that my husband had died unexpectedly. Not...
How Soon is Too Soon? Widows & Dating
Can we please normalize widowed people dating, especially widows? There continues to be this stigma that we either should wait an arbitrary amount of time or never date again to prove to friends, neighbors, family and even strangers that we are dutiful wives. We...
The Reality of Grief
It doesn’t matter if you were college sweethearts who just said I do,Or a middle-aged couple who took the plunge after two failed marriages apiece. It doesn’t matter if it was love at first sight,Or a relationship that developed over time. It doesn’t matter if your...
To the Widow Wondering if She’s Good Enough
Your love story could have been the inspiration for a Hallmark movie. Your spouse made you the center of the universe and reminded you each day of how much you were loved. You felt confident, honored, and beautiful. There may have been times you had to pinch yourself,...
To the Widow Facing Her First Valentine’s Day Alone
First, and most importantly, you’ll get through it. I can’t promise your day won’t be filled with tears, a scream or two, or crying in the shower. But, I promise you can and will make it through. On a day that symbolizes love – especially love between couples and...
Honoring a Late-Spouse
I’m not sure what it is about widowed people dating that makes those around us feel it’s open season to judge and offer their two-cents about our lives and marriages. This is even more upsetting when it comes from members of the widowed community. While I respect your...
Debunking the Stages of Grief – A Note to a Young Widow
I’ll be the first to admit that as I’ve gotten older, my music is limited to classics from the ‘90s. But as a form of mindless entertainment, I read gossip blogs. I wasn’t familiar with rapper King Von nor his music, but I did read about his untimely death in November...
Widow Resolutions: The Four Gs
The new year offers a time for reflection and looking ahead. For the widowed community, it can be a double-edged sword: wanting to move forward while holding onto the precious memories of a late spouse. With so much hurt and pain in the world, especially the COVID-19...
To the Widow Who Is Afraid of Loving Post-Loss
When you exchanged vows, you never imagined in just a few short years you’d be saying goodbye to your spouse for the last time. Whether death blindsided you or it announced its pending arrival, it just wasn’t enough time. No one ever truly makes peace with losing a...
Dear Widow, Don’t You Dare Hide Your Happiness
Widowhood is devastating, catastrophic, soul-stripping, and sadly, all-encompassing. It affects practically every aspect of our life – from our self-esteem to finances. Though most may not openly admit it, I’m sure the thought of suicide has crossed many minds – even...
There is Healing in Sharing Your Story
I think it was a week or so after my husband died when someone referred to me as “widowed.” It was my mother. She was talking to someone and she said, “She’s widowed,” while pointing in my vicinity. I can’t recall the circumstances that led her to identify me as...
100 Ways You Can Support a Widow(er)
1. Just listen – you don’t have to try to solve every problem (unless you know how to fix death). 2. Offer to carpool the children to/from school or sports. 3. Send gift cards to local restaurants – cooking may be the last thing on our minds. 4. If you offer to be...
Four Things I’ve Had to Unlearn About Grief
Other than the death of grandparents, my experience with loss was quite limited. That was until one beautiful Sunday morning in 2012 when grief showed up, unannounced with no warning. It caught me completely off-guard and unprepared for the devastation that was to...
But You’re With Someone New – Why the Grief?
There seems to be a misconception about widowed people who remarry, or even date post-loss. Society thinks the heartache, tears, grief, and sadness magically disappear when we allow someone else to take up space in our hearts. It might not be said as blatantly as...