Permanent scarring of the skin. Telling stories of past experiences. Reading mottos, verses, and lyrics that touch our heart deeply. We become walking talking historical monuments of our own narrative. When grief strikes our lives, it can have the same ...
Overcoming the struggles and turmoil this human existence can bring is something every widow, indeed every person, must contend with. When we had our husband to stand beside us and help us strategize and think through all the levels and ...
Feelings about "suicide awareness" and "suicide prevention" are generally mixed. Some support the movement wholeheartedly, while others think it's a joke. When I've spoken about suicide awareness/prevention in the past, at least half of the comments received will be about ...
In the early months and years, I found myself spinning around in a whirlpool of anxiety, fear, sorrow, and depression. In a word, grief. Some days I felt okay, like “I’ve finally got this.” I enjoyed time with friends and ...
I am really sad this week. More sad than I usually am. A different sad.....And it’s not because I miss my husband more this week-well maybe. It’s not because I am more tired of being a Solo Grandparent. It’s not ...
Your birthday was 3 days ago. You’d be 42 years old now. Instead, you’re forever 40. September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. I know I talked about it last year. But I am reiterating my point because I ...
Riley, Lizzy, Ashley, Sonney, and JD on a camping trip at Sue-meg State Park. Photo Credit: Penelope Ray, 2008 It was 2008 when we found them. JD and I were particularly broke that year after losing our home in the ...
It's not that I enjoy making people uncomfortable but I can't stop saying your name. To people around me, outside of the bubble, you were a nothing that became a something and are now a nothing again. To ...
No one asks to be part of the reason that there is a day dedicated to grief awareness, especially widowhood. You won’t see “Black Friday”-like lines ensuing chaos to be the first ones to claim the deal of “widow riddled ...
TW: Suicide method Very early on, after Bret died, I couldn't dream about him. I couldn't feel his presence at all. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to dream about him--I knew that when I'd wake up the next ...