I belonged next to Eric. I still struggle with where I belong now. The Empty Chair: When Widowhood Changes Where You Belong I belonged next to Eric. I still struggle with where I belong now. People often assume widow loneliness is simply about being alone. But many widows know it is more complicated than that. Sometimes the hardest part isn't being alone. It's missing the person who made a place for you in the world. The person who expected you to be there. The person who mad

A curated list of the best books for widows navigating grief after losing a spouse, including inspiring memoirs, healing stories, and practical tools for rebuilding life after loss.

I wear my wedding ring inside Eric’s on a chain he gave me. I don’t wear them every day, but on days when I especially want him close, I wear them together. If you are looking at your wedding ring and wondering what you are supposed to do with it now that your husband has died, I want you to know something first. You don't have to do anything. You don't have to take it off. You don't have to keep wearing it. You don't have to move it to your right hand or put it away. And you

When your husband dies, you don't just lose the person you love. You lose the person you asked. What do you think about this? Who should we call? Does that estimate sound right? What should we do about the kids? Can you look at this? Suddenly, every decision belongs to you. One of the things I learned after my husband, Eric Woolery, died is that support for widows needs to include more than people who love us. She needs people she trusts to help her navigate all the things he

Let's build you a personal board of directors! Build Your Personal Board of Directors Widowhood changes more than our marital status. It changes how we make decisions. When we're married, we often have someone to think through life with. We bounce ideas off each other, weigh options together, and share the responsibility of difficult choices just naturally, over dinner. After the death of a spouse, that sounding board is suddenly gone. Over the past several years, I've learne

When this picture was taken, we were simply celebrating another first day of school. None of us knew how precious these ordinary moments would become. Every August, the world seems to come alive with fresh starts. Store aisles fill with backpacks and lunchboxes. Parents compare school supply lists. Teachers decorate classrooms. Social media fills with smiling first-day-of-school pictures. For many widowed parents, however, back-to-school season doesn't feel exciting. It feels

I like my little mower better… and my little yard way better. ❤️ Sometimes healing looks like simplfying your life in grief. Widowhood is exhausting in ways many people never see. People often think grief is only sadness. But so much of widowhood is invisible labor: the constant decision-making, emotional carrying, paperwork, repairs, lawn care, parenting, finances, loneliness, and the endless responsibility of holding life together after the death of a spouse. Sometimes the

Anxiety after losing a spouse can make even small decisions feel overwhelming. A widow releasing exercise If you are struggling with anxiety after the death of your spouse, you are not alone. Widowhood can make your mind feel like it never stops racing. What if I can’t do this? What if everything falls apart? What if I never feel okay again? What if I make the wrong decision? After losing a spouse, anxiety and overthinking are incredibly common. Grief changes every part of li

When someone loses her husband, people want to help. They bring meals. They send flowers. They show up at the funeral. But after the funeral, something often changes. If you are wondering how to support a widow after the loss of a husband, you are not alone. Many people want to help, but don’t know what actually makes a difference. What Widows Need Most (That People Don’t Realize) Most widows are not looking for the perfect words. They are looking for: presence consistency s

You’re here because you’re ready to take a small step forward. Let’s break it down into something simple and doable. Before I ever showed up to a hiking group…Before I got on a plane to Israel… My steps looked much smaller. Your starting steps are things like: Looking at the website. Thinking about going. Driving there… and almost turning around. Buying a new outfit for your first event ! Sometimes the step isn’t the big thing. Sometimes it’s just getting a little closer. And

Sometimes a comeback begins with something as simple as moving a chair. Many widows quietly wonder what to do with their home after the death of a spouse. Some feel pressure to remove everything quickly. Others feel like moving anything would be a betrayal. There is no universal timeline for grief. But sometimes healing begins with something much smaller than we expect. Sometimes it begins with something as simple as moving a chair . When Your Home Feels Frozen After Loss Aft

My unexpected love has come in the form of my daughter. Before we were just regular old mother and daughter. Now she is my everything. She helps me and loves me in all ways. It is humbling and I hope I live up to it for her. Valentine’s Day is over. Some of us survived it. Some of us powered through it. Some of us pretended it didn’t exist. Some of us cried in the bathroom and then fixed our mascara. Whatever is fine. Grief doesn’t run on a calendar. Just because February 14

This is not about goals or resolutions.This is about giving yourself permission to be open. A vision board like this is not meant to push you forward. It is meant to sit with you, quietly, and remind you of what you are allowed to consider again. This can be done slowly. It does not need to be finished in one sitting. A prayer to begin God, I do not need to know the whole path.Help me notice what You are placing before me. Help me stay open without pressure or fear. Guide my

Permission Prompts for January You do not need to answer these perfectly. You do not need to act on them. Let them sit with you. What feels daunting or demanding about the push to start fresh this January? What part of your life needs acknowledgment before anything new is added? If you gave yourself permission to look somewhere different, where might your eyes go? That is enough for now. If you would like to explore this more deeply, my friend and grief coach Chris and I are

When your beloved died, you didn’t just lose the person who loved you — you lost the one who delighted in choosing gifts that made you feel seen. Buying yourself a gift isn’t selfish; it’s a small act of care and even a bit of needed frivolity. You are still allowed to receive something beautiful, even if you’re the one giving it. Just like when Eric was alive, I am so excited for his gift to me. Some people may think it is silly. They have never lost the love of their life.

A worksheet for a calmer, kinder December. This season doesn’t have to look the way it used to. It only needs to feel manageable for the person you are today. Use this simple plan to help you release what’s too much and hold on to what brings peace. 1. What I Can Keep This December Write down the traditions, moments, or practices that bring comfort, connection, or quiet joy. Examples: tiny trees, lights, a calm morning, prayer, watching a Christmas movie, visiting one meaning

1. What is weighing on you right now? List the events, obligations, or expectations that feel heavy or draining this season. 2. What are you afraid will happen if you say no? Name the fear. Sometimes writing it down takes away its power. 3. What do you actually need right now? Rest, space, quiet, company, support, clarity, time. Be honest. 4. Which items on your list can you release? Choose the ones that are not essential to your healing or stability. 5. Gentle scripts you ca

“See, I am doing a new thing.” – Isaiah 43:19 The holidays can stir up a storm of memories—old traditions, empty chairs, and moments that once felt full but now feel tender. When life changes, our traditions can too. Letting go of certain things doesn’t mean you’re letting go of love; it means you’re creating space for peace and presence in this new season. Think about the following questions to help prepare you for the holiday season. 1. Traditions I’m letting go of this yea

A widow can feel small and lost in the great big world, all alone. After Eric died, I started noticing something that no one warned me about. The aloneness of being left out. It didn’t happen all at once. At first, people showed up with meals, texts, and kindness. But as time passed, things shifted. Invitations slowed. Group texts went silent. Families gathered without us. And I felt the hurt of that. Deeply. But here’s the truth: I said no to a lot of invitations too, be

Printable worksheet: 💗 Part 1: Acknowledge the Shift 💗 Circle or highlight what’s true for you right now: • I miss the people I used to...