Second Chance

Second Chance

When Matt first died my heart was so broken I didn’t think I would try to love again. After a year I thought maybe I could but realized I couldn’t. But I took the time to heal my heart and learn to love me.

My heart has taken a beating over and over again in the last few years. Every time I thought I would be okay something else happened. When I gave up is when I found something I never thought would be mine. A second chance at love.

This time is different in so many ways. But that is what makes it better for me as it doesn’t take away from what I had with Matt. Doesn’t make me compare what I had the first time around to the second.

My life feels full again. Something I never thought I feel again after the pain I felt. I still have Matt’s family and see Tiernan. But now I have even more people for support.

Don’t rule out finding love again when you are not looking it can happen. And moving on doesn’t mean forgetting what you had it means making peace with what you no longer have. Matt and I had a good run and nothing will take away from that.

I think of him from time to time no longer sad about him not being here. I don’t stay in the past long I just visit knowing that when I come back to the present the person who I am with now is okay with me needing that time.

When you are not looking it will happen if it is meant to be. And it might be a challenge and but having someone next to you for the hard days is worth it.

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Do you know someone ready to make a meaningful impact this holiday season? Join us in embracing the true spirit of giving by getting involved in the Hope for Widows Foundation’s ‘Bring Hope Holiday Assistance Program’ virtual initiative, now in its third year. This program directly supports widows who may be struggling to provide gifts and essentials for their children during the holiday season.

For many widows facing financial challenges, the choice between keeping the lights on, putting food on the table, and buying presents can be heart-wrenching. When you add the responsibilities of solo parenting, the weight of grief, and the toll it takes emotionally and physically, the burden becomes even greater.

To become a sponsor and access more information, and details visit the following link: https://bit.ly/3ZROBWo

For our widows/hope sisters in the community, please stay tuned as we’ll be sending out widow applications for sponsorship this holiday season very soon.

Let’s come together and make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

About Laurel Snook

Laurel became a young widow on October 2, 2020, her husband Matt had a heart attack he was only 37. Matt was a juvenile diabetic and they always knew he would die young but she never thought that she could be a widow at 32. Navigating grief with anxiety, regrets and guilt have been a struggle for Laurel. They had gotten into a fight days before he died and they had talked about divorce. One of the things that helped her the most is finding other widows who understood the pain she was feeling. In February she decided to start writing her story. Self-care is something else she started to do daily and art has become her outlet to get what she is feeling out which she shares on her Instagram. Being a young widow comes with its own challenges but we are not alone in this journey.
You can find her on Instagram @HealingPorcupine or her personal blog link- Healingporcupine.com.