I’ve had years to study the effects of grief and just about everything written about it. And one of the things that surprised me when I first became a widow was how much fear was a part of grief. After Rick died, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t have the strength to go on with my own life without … Read the blog
Category: Hope for Widows Blog
One Great Love – latest blog on the Hope for Widows website
In the eight years since Rick’s been gone, I’ve tried dating and managed to find three men who were potential partners. Yet, here I sit alone again, mulling over what went wrong with each budding relationship. One moved out of town for work. One returned to his ex-wife. The third is an on-again, off-again relationship that has gone on for … Read the blog
Alone Again, Naturally – Hope for Widows Blog for November 2024
As a writer, I spend a lot of time alone, and a lot of time thinking – mostly contemplating life. Tonight, the holiday dinner is over, the kids and grandkids are all off on their merry way, and I sit here pondering how it feels to be alone again in my quiet home. It feels natural now.
I was nearing … Read the blog
Missing My Biggest Fan – Hope for Widows blog for September 2024
I’ve been excited about my latest adventure. The local library invited me to have a table with my books at their annual local author fair. I’ve never done it before – never even considered it, mostly because I never considered myself an author. I know I’m a writer. I know I’ve published books, but I guess it’s “imposter syndrome,” because … Read the blog
That Dreaded Time of Year – Hope for Widows blog for August 2024
It’s that time, again. The ten-day period between the anniversary of Rick’s death and his birthday, the day we held his celebration of life. August 13th to August 23rd, 2017: the most painful time of my life.
After seven years, it doesn’t hit as hard. Well, at least that’s what I thought. But I realized that all last week I … Read the blog
Kisses That Last a Lifetime
July 12th would have been our twenty-seventh wedding anniversary. In the seven years since Rick died, I’ve gone through many different stages of grief, and I’m a different woman than that distraught widow from years ago. Instead of sadness over his death, I more often look back feeling thankful for experiencing our life together. Instead of constant grief triggers that … Read the blog
Disconnected – June 2024, Hope for Widows blog
I reported for jury duty a couple weeks ago. It’s probably my tenth time in the past 45 years since I was first summoned in my early twenties. However, this was the first time I’ve served that we were allowed to bring cell phones into the courthouse. Quite a perk!
Other years, I was in no-contact status with the world … Read the blog
The Lost Piece – Hope for Widows blog for April 2024
THE LOST PIECE
When a soul mate dies
It leaves a hole with a ragged edge
An empty space, too difficult to patch
Although I try to find another piece that fits,
The shape is never quite right
And the hole remains empty
Sometimes, I set the puzzle aside
And pretend my life is complete
Without that missing piece
The … Read the blog
What I Miss – Hope for Widows Blog for March 2024
Life is normal now. I’m me, and I’m alone, and it’s okay.
And then, suddenly, it’s not.
When things are going well, I enjoy my life alone so much that I barely want to date. I have no desire to find the next companion, partner, potential mate. I’ve come to terms with life on my own. I’ve actually done better … Read the blog
There Will Never Be Another You – Hope for Widows Blog – January 2024
Every now and then I hear one of those old songs from the 1940s that my parents used to listen to, and – wow – do those lyrics hit! The other night, as I lay awake in bed (as usual), I remembered the lyrics of “There Will Never Be Another You”:
… Read the blogThere will be many other nights like this |