Widowhood Is Not Funny

Monday, June 28, 2010

Check out my new book!


Hope you'll take a peek at my new book.

Widowhood comes suddenly and painfully into a woman’s life. One minute you’re married, and in a single heartbeat, you find yourself alone and lonely. Despite the pain and anguish, you must realize you’re not through with life on this planet. It’s time to finish the race, to pick up where your husband left off. Grief is personal. Every woman must find her own path to a new life, new purpose and new happiness. But all must navigate their way through the minefield of emotions that the loss of your life partner can bring you to. This is a guidebook to help you navigate that minefield and make it through to the other side. Inside you will find the sensible, practical advice only another widow can give, in a no-nonsense, get it done, you can do this approach. Take a deep breath, and say goodbye to the past, then turn around and face your future! When it comes to grief,it takes as long as it takes!


http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/widowhood-is-not-funny/8505174

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Starting Over

Time to start again, it seems. My daughter has moved away from home, to be with her husband, who's in the army and stationed many miles from here. I miss her terribly, but we both have our own lives to live now, separately. I had hoped she would live close by and I'd see her occasionally; she wasn't supposed to move so far away. She phones me now and then, and sends texts each night, saying she loves me and misses me, which is nice, but not the same as having her nearby.

I've moved too, into my own small place. It's the first time I've ever lived alone and it's exciting and scary, all at the same time. It's very quiet, which as a writer, I appreciate a lot. I sit here at my computer, pecking away on my latest assignment, lost in my own little world. I love being able to work at home, where it's peaceful and quiet. When it gets a little too quiet, I go visit with friends, go to my club meetings and enjoy the comraderie and laughter.

So, I have a new life, a new career, and new friends. Like anyone, there are times I love it and times I hate it, but mostly it's good. When I feel down about being alone, I remind myself that change is good and inevitable, it seems. I've stopped trying to bring back what was normal, whatever that is nowadays, and try to embrace the changes in my life. The bad news is I have to be alone now, but the good news is I have new opportunities and new ways to bring my dreams to fruition. I've posted before about not getting stuck in grief and hiding in one's home, avoiding life. We have to get on with things, with life; life goes on and we have to go with it.

Those of you out there who read my blog, and thank you, btw, will notice a change in attitude. It's taken a while, but I've finally reached acceptance, that last stage of grief. Sometimes, you feel as if it will never happen, how could you accept the loss? But you do, you have to, eventually. That's when you know you're ready to start over. It happens at different times, for different women, but it happens and when it does for you, don't feel guilty. You can't hold onto the grief forever; your husband wouldn't want you to anyway.

Reach out and embrace your new life, make it a good one. Starting over is scary, but exciting too. I hope you'll post here and let me know how you're doing, how you're moving on and starting over. I'd love to hear your stories. Talk to me, I'm listening!