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Does time really heal all wounds?
As a child, I remember the first time I went to a wake service with my mother for a neighbor who had passed away. I remember being so frightened as I walked into the funeral chapel. I vividly recall so many people crying and feeling as though I would somehow get swallowed up by the…
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Will I ever be the same?
By Tom Peyton It’s a question I have asked myself on multiple occasions since my wife has died. In a similar way one of our new writers Daniel Pratt stated that the day his wife died he started living in the past. I think it’s the common question we widowers and I am sure…
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Spring Ahead with Gratitude
Spring weather has finally arrived for those of us who live in the Northeastern part of the United States. In Upstate New York, the last vestiges of snow are disappearing, and I can see glimpses of slightly green grass. Warmer temperatures will change my mood after a long winter of cold and dark days. However,…
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What is the biggest regret you had after your spouse died? – And how are you using it to help yourself heal?
The title of my article is based on a question recently posed by our Founder, Herb Knoll, to a group of widowers. It is both a challenging and painful question to answer, but it can also be a helpful tool in healing. I don’t propose any clear-cut way to answer the question; it’s purely subjective,…
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Flying Solo
Recently I was having a conversation with my son, and he asked me how I was feeling. I told him I was ok. Every four or five months I see my cardiologist and primary care physician who monitor my health. For the most part I am fine: overweight as I have been most of my…
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Giving up the darkness in my life
A few days ago, I had a conversation with my grief counselor, who also happens to be an Episcopal priest. Father Joe, as he is affectionately known, has an abundance of wisdom combined with immeasurable compassion and a keen sense of understanding the human spirit. I told him I knew this was his “busy season”…
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The Past
Recently I had a number of conversations with family and friends about the past. The collective consensus from our group discussions was as follows: the past gives meaning to our lives; it’s what defines us. It started when each of us was born x number of years ago. It defined our family, the schools we…
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Life is like riding a bicycle; to keep your balance; you must keep moving” – Albert Einstein
Over 93 years ago, Albert Einstein wrote a letter to his son to encourage him never to give up. I don’t know what the circumstances of the letter involved, but I know Einstein, the physicist used an image that his son could easily relate to a bicycle. Momentum, along with a rider’s balance, helps keep…
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Lessons I Learned from A Man Called Otto
Two weeks ago, I decided to go to the movies and see the new film A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks. Hanks has the title role based on a Swedish film called A Man Called Ove. I read many reviews and saw a mixed bag of comments, from disappointment in Tom Hanks; to dislike…
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“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” – Willie Nelson
Happy New Year, my dear brothers. Hard to believe it’s 2023. I wish you peace, comfort, and strength as we start a new year. I was trying to find a quote to help me as I begin a new year. I looked at the words of wisdom from ancient philosophers as I have done in…
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