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Widow Survival Guide
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items The worst thing in your life has happened and you've joined a club you never asked to be a part of. Love, I understand. It fking SUUUUUUCKS here. You're not alone. Here are some things that have helped me in my first year of widowdom, maybe they'll h...
Sections
5
Books on Grief, Loss, and Trauma
Gifts for Grievers
New Hobbies and Habits
Clubs/Resources
Widow Humor
Books on Grief, Loss, and Trauma
This is a book I ended up with two copies of. The daily meditations are good things to remind yourself of when the world has crumbled in on you.
Healing After Loss: Daily Grief Meditations
I found his poet via instagram and bought this book of hers. It brings me to tears every time, as though the words were written just for me.
Then Death Came by Sara Rian
This one is more about the “how” of grief, societal expectations and failures to authentically allow others to feel and express their grief.
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief
Tauma is tough, and our bodies hold the physical memories of the emotions.
The Body Keeps the Score: Healing Trauma
Not all widows are elderly and lived long lives with their loved ones. Some are still very much early on in their existence.
The Hot Young Widows Club: Lessons on Grief
Going from married to widowed is awful.
A Widow's Journey: Reflections on Walking Alone
Gifts for Grievers
It was beautiful (and a bit overwhelming) how many gifts I received when my husband unexpectedly passed, from gift baskets and flowers to charcuterie boards and meals. Here's a compilations of the ones that touched my heart the most.
A friend from the early days of our relationship, one of my first co-workers-turned-friends, sent me dinner. She fed not only my tummy but my heart.
Lobster Roll Delivery & Gifts | Ship Nationwide
The absolute favorite gift box received. The ornament hangs on my cabinets, the air plant is in my kitchen window, the worry stone is on my window sill, and the grief cards were a daily meditative and emotional check-in for me where I could select an...
Sympathy Gift Box Sending love and strength, Deepest sympathy, sending you a hug, Sorry for your loss
The simplicity of this gift box was so reassuring. The cookies were very tasty and this blanket lives on my couch still.
Sympathy Care Package | Spoonful of Comfort
This isn't the exact one I received but the sentiment is there. I love having this blanket on my couch every day, and there were many times in the first weeks where I'd walk around the house with it wrapped around me like a cocoon.
Afterprints Get Well Hug Blanket 50x60"
Warmies are a heartfelt gift for any occasion, and this cardinal is especially sweet and sentimental for someone who is experiencing loss. They're weighted, smell of lavender, and can be heated up or cooled down for whatever effect the snuggler wants...
Cardinal Warmies
I wear this bracelet daily and it is a lovely gift.
RED CARDINAL COLLECTION
A friend and colleague heard me mention that my husband and I had plans to visit the manatees. She donated to a manatee foundation in his honor and I received a lovely letter from them acknowledging the memorial gift. Consider memorial gifts for a ca...
Support Manatee Protection | Save the Manatee Club
I have these exact wind chimes. I have gifted these to others who have experienced loss. They have the most beautiful and resonant tone to them and hold up very well against the elements.
Festival 24" Redwood Wind Chime Bronze USA
New Hobbies and Habits
After losing my husband, I learned very suddenly that new habits needed to be developed, including finding hobbies that spoke to the place I now was in life. Here are a few of the ones I picked up; the big lesson is to KEEP MOVING.
Weekly bingo at a local American Legion made getting out of the house something I scheduled and looked forward to. I'd also made friends there while playing.
Older Adults’ Functional Performance and Health Knowledge After a Combination Exercise, Health Education, and Bingo Game
Cards that speak to grief and healing.
Best Tarot Cards for Grief and Healing
I chose to get more in tune with my intuition and learn tarot and mysticism. Got a deck similar to this one for learning and received one as a gift which I use for my personal questions/energy. I've really been enjoying my journey with the cards so f...
Tarot Cards
One griever's take on how tarot cards helped her navigate feelings.
Exploring Grief and Tarot Cards
I decided to pick up a paintbrush again after decades of not playing with watercolors. I'm enjoying re-learning this medium.
Learn to Watercolor: 20 Beginner Lessons + Pad
Journaling has become a near-daily ritual for me. Writing down thoughts, dreams, ideas, questions, conversations, learnings…my mini journal fits in my purse so it rides with me wherever I go, that way whenever the mood to write strikes I am ready.
Journaling Prompts for Grief and Loss
Day of the Dead how to paint a watercolour flower skull
I’m continuing my watercolor journey, learning from online tutorials and people I encounter in the wild. Fun fact - pill bottles are waterproof, so use that vessel your happy pills come in to be a travel water container for your artwork.
Easy Watercolor Orange Tutorial - Paint a Citrus Slice
Clubs/Resources
Personally I haven't joined a GriefShare group but I have heard really good things.
Need Help Dealing with Grief? - GriefShare
Widow Humor
Or as I like to call it, traumedy.
If you don't laugh, you'll cry. Be sure to mark that box. ;)
Grief and Loss Bingo