August 26 was National Dog Day, and I posted a photo of my dogs Cooper and Basta on Facebook to celebrate the day. I was particularly close with Basta and was devastated when he died in 2006. I periodically think of him and smile, but posting that photo really brought back memories. The next day, I hiked and thought of him once again. Toward the end of my hike, I passed a man wearing a T-shirt that said “Basta” across the front. I couldn’t believe it! Yes, Basta is an actual

Yesterday was National Widows Day. To help support other widows, I went on Facebook to write a quick message and acknowledgement. When I logged in, the first post I saw was from a friend I’ve known for almost 20 years. Her post said she was celebrating her 15-year anniversary and had two photos from her wedding in Puerto Vallarta. We, of course, attended her wedding. In fact, I discuss her wedding in my book, Feeling Left Behind. My husband stood just outside one photo’s view

I’m excited to announce that I’ve been recognized as a Book Excellence Award Finalist for my book, Feeling Left Behind: Permission to Grieve, in the grief category. Out of hundreds of books entered into the Book Excellence Awards competition, they selected my book for its high-quality writing, design, and overall market appeal. Feeling Left Behind was released in 2019. I wrote the book because I felt there weren’t grief books that just allowed widows/widowers to grieve. Most

I received a text from a single friend who went to the grocery store forgetting that Valentine’s Day is Friday. She was bombarded by flowers, balloons, and reminders that she’s single. She wasn’t happy. I know this also can be a difficult day/week for those of you who’ve lost your partners. Thankfully, Valentine’s Day doesn’t affect me too much. But, I wish I could wipe it off the calendar because the day brings pain to many. I can’t do that, but here are suggestions for gett

New Year’s Eve . . . Other than in my younger years, when I liked to celebrate on New Year’s and drink, I’ve never been a fan. My sister died on New Year’s Eve. And as I mention in my book, after my husband died, I found New Year’s brutally painful. I couldn’t imagine moving into a new year without him. I wanted to go back in life, not forward. And with each passing New Year’s, I felt as if I was getting farther away from him. I’m now used to moving through New Year’s without

Welcome back to part 2 of my series on grieving and the holidays. In part 1, I suggested setting boundaries, planning ahead, giving to others, and honoring and incorporating your loved one into the holidays. Today’s suggestions include keeping rituals if they serve you, trying something different, taking comfort from animals, being ok if you want to celebrate, having compassion for yourself, and asking for support. Keep rituals if they serve you: I like to stay connected to m