Dealing with Grief and Fears

After my husband passed away from cancer and the dust had settled, I was soon left to deal with the pain and suffering that would ensue. I didn’t know how…

Life’s disappointments, sudden change, loss and grief seem to come in waves. They strike upon a calm beach and a peaceful mind out of nowhere, washing away all that once felt secure. I’ve been basking in the sun for some time, feeling quite content. I didn’t expect it to last forever…

If you’re in your seventh decade of life or beyond, no doubt you have experienced some plot twists. Whether illness, divorce, death or an otherwise unexpected curve ball that life threw at you. In my conversations with hundreds of people who have lost a spouse…

Losing someone we love can be devastating. Our whole world seems to come to a standstill, while everything else keeps on moving. It can happen in an instant or may take years. It can be planned, unexpected, tragic, painful, or even a blessing…

Although I am not familiar with Christine Caine, an author and speaker focused on empowering women globally, I recently encountered a quote of hers that resonated with me deeply: “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried. But you’ve actually been planted.”

When I first received the news that I had lung cancer, I felt very sad. After several tests, we suspected it was probable, but I had remained hopeful that it could still be benign. Now, I had the answer. Just hearing the word malignant is scary enough, but then you must accept…

Whether it comes unexpectedly or after a long illness, losing a spouse is traumatic at best. At worst it can be debilitating. I know because, at age 35, I became a widow myself. While many people want to help, it can be difficult to know how…

I am usually a very reasonable person. I taught mathematics, for heaven’s sake, and that is the most logical science in the world! But I was afraid. It was such an irrational fear that I was embarrassed to admit it…

Twenty years of marriage is a milestone worth celebrating. My late husband, Tom, and I had grand plans – a dreamy Caribbean cruise, soaking in the sun, and the love we had built over two decades. “I’m the luckiest guy to have married you, Kathleen! And I’m gonna love you…

Loss comes in many forms. Some losses are tangible, like the passing of a loved one, while others are intangible – difficult to define and often harder to grieve. Ambiguous loss is one such experience: the profound sense of mourning for someone who is still alive. It’s a grief…