I have just updated the support meeting wiki as I can’t make the session tonight. I was so looking forward to speaking to you all, there hasn’t been a call when you haven’t lifted my spirits and given me the courage to carry on the grieving fight. I came home early as I have the onset of flu, shiver – can’t get warm, barking cough and absolutely no energy.
I am sure an early night will suffice and I will be back fighting fit tomorrow….and of course I will rearrange the session.
I just want to give my heartfelt apologies….I so didn’t …read more

Don’t forget about our next online meeting  being  held at 6pm New York time on 16th October. That’s tomorrow!
You can sign up, remember it is free of charge and easy to do!, at the Widows Quest Wiki Page.
It is one hour which I really look forward to as I hear from all of you of how you are coping and in some small way we can try and support each other like only widows and widowers can…..if you haven’t joined before, we would love to hear from you and it really is easy… all you have to do it
1) Go …read more

Our next online meeting will be held at 6pm New York time on 16th December. You can sign up, remember it is free of charge and easy to do!, at the Widows Quest Wiki Page.
I think one of the hardest parts of widowhood is that feeling of loneliness, that feeling of not know where to turn, that feeling of being lost, that feeling that no one REALLY understands the pain. That is the point of this support meeting.
It is free, it is online, it is open and honest. It is supportive and there to show you, you are not on …read more

I receive wonderful emails, many which are too personal to share or you ask not to share. But here is one from Gerrit Hofsink
“After reading your post about music on Widows Quest, I would like to share a song with you. It is called “Still” and you can find it on my website: www.myspace.com/gerrithofsink
It’s the first one on the player. I wrote this song after our daughter had a stillborn son, their first child and our first grandchild.
Kind regards,
Gerrit”
I think you will all enjoy the music as well as the words which are so powerful – Gerrit thank you for sharing …read more

I have really enjoyed our telephone support sessions over the last couple of months. Hearing your voices and your concerns – well it actually makes me feel normal! Just knowing that others have the rollercoaster of emotions helps so much!
Remember there is no cost…not even a telephone cost to these events. I let you know a web address and once there you can hear our voices….but we do need to set a date which is OK for all of us. Obviously we are all over the world so it can be difficult setting a time but if you want to …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

I haven’t arranged another online support meeting as my diary has been a little full, not in a social sense but in a work sense. As I live in the UK it means I need to stay up until after midnight which is not a problem at all as I love the sessions, however my body has been so tired to cope with extra late nights this month.
I will organise one in October and would like to know what you would like

To discuss
In terms of timings and dates
Whether you would like me to continue with them?

For those new to the …read more

I often think how wonderful it would be, if when we were born we came with a tag which tells us when we are going to die! When you lose someone you regret so much – or at least I do. If I had known our time together was going to be short then I may well have travelled more, worked less, worried less, enjoyed more.
The Associated Press has just issued some interesting data on life expectancy.

U.S. life expectancy has risen to a new high, now standing at nearly 78 years

The increase is due mainly to falling death rates in …read more

I am always glad to receive advice and help from other people. This weekend I got this article to share with you all about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from Chicago Healers which is a prescreened integrative health and healing network, offering a comprehensive understanding of each practitioner’s services, approach, and philosophy.
When shock happens in our life, we have to learn how to cope and how to move on…hope this helps
“Almost 8 years later when emotional side effects should have generally decreased, the mental effects of the September 11th attacks are still on the rise.  While effects of Post Traumatic Stress …read more

Thanks to Tribute.com who sent this information to us all at Widows Quest.
“According to a recent article in U.S. News & World Report, researchers have identified key factors that define “Prolonged Grief Disorder,” a disorder thought to exist when a person becomes stuck for months or years in a grief and loss cycle and is unable to move on with their lives.
For those of us that know someone like this, it can be difficult to know what to do or say to make the other person feel better. According to David Kessler, Grief and Loss Specialist for Tributes.com, “Many of …read more