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Pathfinder
To a man, we are stepping into Christmas with much trepidation or resignation. Without our wives, it is, for some, a terrible time and, for others, at best, a melancholy time. For me, this year will be melancholy. But I told my grief therapist today (whom I still see twice a month) that there is […]
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Holiday Greetings
So here we are again. Another Holiday season. This marks the 5th consecutive crazy Christmas for me. Christmas in 2018 had my late wife Joyce just completing her first round of a terrible chemotherapy. By Christmas 2019 she had passed away. We all know how the first Christmas goes. Then came 2020 and that silly […]
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Thanks to each of you for supporting me
I can’t believe that in two weeks, 2022 will end, and 2023 will begin. Another year will end, and a New Year will begin with my hope and aspirations for new and exciting possibilities. It was how I looked at each year for many years until that villain called grief entered the picture. It took […]
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Each One, Help One
“Don’t hoard your lessons!” Those words hammered into the back of my mind one day, about three months after my second wife died. By then, I’d been asked to share my grief journey. Contrary, or maybe not, to what one may think, it came pretty easy to talk about and was beneficial to me. I […]
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Healing Through Journaling
As you make your way into your new life as a widowed man, it can be helpful to keep track of some of the events on your journey. This is new territory. You may want to know later what you have been through. There are at least two benefits of journaling: first: When you get […]
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Nine Ways To Simplify Your Life
WHEN DID LIFE GET SO BUSY? I’M HEARING THE MANTRA, “TOO MUCH TO DO, TOO LITTLE TIME” FAR MORE THESE DAYS. When I became a widower, all of life’s have-to-dos seemed to double. I became a widower just before the emergence of COVID. The stress that was put on me both personally and professionally was […]
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Winter Rain
It’s December in St. Louis, Missouri. Winter has arrived. With the winter comes days of winter rain. In years past, my wife and I actually enjoyed days like today (when we did not have to get outside). I’d light a fire. We’d make some tea or coffee, and just be together. Many people find days […]
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Take some time this holiday season to honor your loved one
Hard to believe, but another year is quickly ending. The holidays mark when family and friends celebrate our traditions and enjoy the festivities associated with those sacred traditions. My late wife, as I have stated previously, loved the holidays. It was her time to say thanks, and I love you to our family and friends. […]
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How I Help Surviving Spouses Create a Positive Financial Future
By Mark Clogan, CFP In the aftermath of a spouse’s death, many surviving spouses experience periods of financial worry and uncertainty. In addition to dealing with the emotional challenge of losing a beloved partner, they are often left to contend with unwelcome financial and legal responsibilities. As a result, you may find yourself juggling new […]
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Part 3: What Now, God?
One morning, as I was getting ready to visit Jasmine, one of her doctors called and said, “Mr. Isara, the results of the MRI revealed that Jasmine has had several strokes resulting in damage to both sides of her brain.” After a brief discussion to clarify what that meant, the doctor said, “She will never […]