#widow
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The Last Goodbye: A Journey Towards Healing and Closure
The author experiences ups and downs in their grief journey, feeling melancholy as anniversaries approach. A pivotal moment comes when they realize they had already said goodbye to their husband. Remembering the significance of goodbyes brings them peace and a sense of closure, highlighting the importance of parting words. Continue reading
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The Breaking Point: Dealing With So Much
Preface: This is a warning that I have been trying to write something for a while, but I am all over the place. Over the past couple of weeks, I have had so many thoughts and ideas about what I want to write about. I would start, then stop, and not finish anything. I kept Continue reading
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Fear of Writing: From Trauma to Triumph
The writer shares experiences of betrayal, loss, and fear related to writing and creativity. Exploring the impact of childhood boundary violation, she emphasizes the healing potential of writing and offers tips for reconnecting with creativity, practicing self-care, and seeking support. Overcoming fear is depicted as a journey of healing and empowerment. Continue reading
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Is it Moving On OR Forgetting: The Analyzing
The writer shares her journey of grappling with the loss of her husband and navigating the realm of companionship as a widow. She emphasizes the need to take things at one’s own pace, honoring the deceased spouse, and seeking new connections. Safety precautions and self-protection are highlighted. The message promotes self-determination and finding purpose in… Continue reading
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Positive Affirmations: Harness the Power of a Positive Mindset
What are Positive Affirmations? I remember watching the movie “The Devil Wears Prada” for the very first time. Being in fashion, I adored this movie immensely. When Emily repeated to herself, “I love my job. I love my job. I love my job.” something inside me took notice. She was using the power of positive Continue reading
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Life After Loss: Navigating the Challenges of Grief
Moving Into Another Year This year felt a little different going in. I don’t know why. As they say, the fog is lifting, and I’m beginning to see things clearer in my new life after loss. The one day I’ve been dreading quickly approached. As those closest to us know, Eric and I were married Continue reading
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Setting Healthy Boundaries: Tips for Maintaining Good Health
The Importance of Setting Healthy Boundaries Hello all, my days have been busy, to say the least. Between work and house chores, my publishing business takes up any free time I have left. Whereas, I’m in the process of writing a non-fiction manuscript about identifying and healing from toxic relationships with a focus on intergenerational Continue reading
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(Pt 2) Overthinking: How to Stop Overthinking
Yes, You Can Stop Overthinking In Part 1 we discussed what Overthinking is, what it is not, and how it affects our daily lives. By recognizing the factors that cause us to overthink, we can practice the positive habits we’ll discuss in this article. It is possible to stop overthinking and it is a habit Continue reading
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(Pt 1) Overthinking: What is it and Causes
Is Overthinking Real? When I was younger, I didn’t notice my intrusive, self-doubting thoughts. It was when I opened my business at the age of 28. The thoughts were always there but suddenly became very prominent. On the way home from work most days, I used to go through everything I did and said. I Continue reading
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Don’t Fear Change: Embrace Starting Something New
Fear of Change New can be scary. In my years as a manager, I’ve learned that some people don’t like change. Those people will always stay stagnant until and unless circumstances push them to move outside their comfort zone and do something different. Willing or unwilling, change only happens in the uncomfortable zone, but, there’s Continue reading
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Reflections of the New Year: Navigating Uncharted Waters
The New Year Welcome to the New Year. I hate social media, yet we live there, don’t we? Today I was reminded of a New Year past, from 2019—such a bittersweet memory with my husband. Nothing could touch us. We were on top of the world. Both of us were in a new position and Continue reading
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So This Was Christmas: Finding Peace Amidst Grief
Christmas’s Past I don’t know when I started to dislike Christmas. Somewhere around the time that being a small business owner of a tattoo/piercing studio was not profitable from October to Christmas became a reality. Birthdays and tax season were a big deal, but holidays just became a burden. There always seemed to be too Continue reading
About Me and My Grief Journey
My grief journey began in the Summer of 2020. I became a widow overnight. Without warning, my entire life was turned upside down, broken into pieces I didn’t know how to put back together. Writing became my anchor—my way to breathe, process, and heal, even in small, fractured moments.
After losing Eric, I was diagnosed with PTSD, complicated grief, and an anxiety disorder. For a long time, I was paralyzed by my own emotions. I traveled across the U.S. for over two years, mostly alone, learning how to carry myself through the aftermath of sudden loss.
Along the way, I found love again. Greg became an important part of my life, bringing companionship, laughter, and even new challenges. Losing him to suicide has been another unimaginable heartbreak that shapes much of what I write here. Through it all, my emotional support animals —Odin (dog) and Freija (cat)— keep me grounded and remind me there is still love, life, and care to give.
I moved and now reside in Chicago, Illinois. This city, this home, is my space to rebuild, to grieve, and to explore who I am beyond loss.
What you will find here
This blog started as a place to house my writing. Over time, it’s become much more. Here, I reflect on grief, healing, and the messy, beautiful, often difficult journey of life after sudden loss. I write about my day-to-day experiences, the struggles and triumphs with my diagnoses, and anything else that captures my heart and attention.
My journey on podcasts
Many of my articles are available in podcast form on Spotify and Amazon Music. I welcome your comments—I love feedback. Let’s share this journey together, and maybe find adventure along the way.