Many of you know that I record an internet radio show (a podcast) called The Engaging Brand. Normally I don’t mention it here but this week I interviewed Jim Clemmer about how we cope with change in our lives. It was a really interesting interview and made me think about

How we put pressure on ourselves by thinking about the expectations of others
How our reality is not something fully defined…it is built from perception, so if we change our perception, we change our reality!

I think that you may find some tips that will help you with your grief. Death is the …read more

Our brains are at the heart of who we are as human beings. I have had a fascination with how the brain works and how you can maintain a healthy ‘brain’ since my Dad died of dementia. It was the most awful sight…this proud man disintegrating in front of our eyes…this man who was incredibly intelligent not even being able to function at all without help.
Gosh even writing about it brings a lump to my throat. I idolised Dad and it still hurts that I could not stop that happening to him.
Anyway, (Anna pulls herself together!) I recorded an audio …read more

Welcome to the carnival of positive thinking which I publish every Sunday to help widows and widowers face their grief, their depression and start moving forward with their lives without ever forgetting our loved ones. Hope these articles will help you x
Anna presents If you could live your live over…posted at The Engaging Brand
Karen S Murphy presents The Lesson of Perfection posted at Polaris Rising, saying, “I have a confession to make: I’m not perfect. For that matter, neither are you. I’m totally okay with your non-perfection, and in fact I see perfection in your non-perfection—the very humanness that makes …read more

As a widow or widower one of the hardest aspects I find is dealing with loneliness. Loneliness eats at your soul, it reaffirms what you have lost. I think dealing with loneliness is the most important aspect in a way of dealing with grief. At first all you want to be is alone and then you lose the will to go out, I know that I fight the feeling of being a hermit all the time. Here are 6 ways I fight the depression, fight the loneliness – feel free to add your ideas for us all to learn from …read more

A while ago Jonathan Cunningham left a comment on the blog about Lets Reflect. How he had turned his life around through the power of self actualisation.
Well, I was lucky enough to interview him for The Engaging Brand podcast. For anyone who is searching for meaning and not knowing how to start building a new life it may be worth a listen. You can listen here to this epsiode of The Engaging Brand.
Let me know, has anyone used this technique and has it worked?

It is 5 years today that Dad took his final bow from this world. A world that he graced so well. There is not a day goes by without me thinking of him, wishing that I had spent more time with him, asking myself how could I have been a better daughter….all the kind of thoughts, grief riddles your brain with, during the bereavement process.Many of you know that I run a podcast and blog in Dad’s honor called The Engaging Brand. He would have been so proud as this year it was nominated for the Best Business Podcast award. Though it …read more

Many readers of Widows Quest might know that I also produce a podcast called The Engaging Brand which is a business show, but this week I interviewed a wonderful lady – Kim Ades -  who talked about how we think and how we can control how we think – turning our negative thought into positive thoughts.
I thought you may enjoy the show and it may help people to think more positively during this period of grief – here is a link to playing it online

Going from being in a couple, to being single is one of the hardest things. I smile as I remember those nights when I just wished that I had some time for myself, or he was irritating me for some silly reason. Now I have that time, I miss those irritating habits
Here are 5 ways that I try and beat the loneliness however, I would love your ideas

I read 2 books a week. I don’t read novels as they are too emotional for me. I read books that help me develop or historical accounts
I have joined the local …read more

I am a big soccer fan and this week I watched as Frank Lampard  – whose mother had died during the week – step up and score a penalty in the Champions League semi final. He was desperate to play and his mother would have wanted him to – she was his biggest fan.
What struck me was for all the money these players earn, for all the prestige of the event,   after he scored he wept, holding his black armband and pointing to his father.
When we lose a parent, it is like losing part of us. They are our …read more

Last week I posted about Never Be Afraid of Living, a post inspired by talking to Brianne Schwantes. I said that I would post when the interview on The Engaging Brand went live…if you are feeling down today then just listen to this audiopodcast…it is full of hope and will inspire you to never give up.