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Courage at the Crossroads
My dear brothers, recently, I found myself experiencing another visit to an all too familiar place, “the crossroads.” First, let me give you a little background about how I choose to navigate life. I strongly believe in the practice of dividing my life into three distinct silos, my personal life, my spiritual life, and my…
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To Overcome Grief – One Needs to Address All Facets of Life
For nearly 14 years, I have dedicated my life to the service of widowers worldwide, and during that time, I have learned much about what it takes to recover from male grief. From the widower’s mental and physical health to their financial health, ensuring their career is stable, and their relationships with their children, in-laws,…
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Autumn Leaves
In some of my previous articles, I mentioned how I was a member of some cover bands during my teenage years. It was the sixties. Growing up in Nashville, the influence of country music surrounded me, yet it did not interest me. I was a big Beach Boys and Beatles fan (among others). Yet, to…
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I don’t know what to say; Is there a way I can help?
I have several friends I often speak with, and I must preface that they have been highly supportive since my wife died over two years ago. I appreciate the meals, the invitations to parties, and the opportunities to socialize with them, but there is this feeling of discomfort every time we get together. There is…
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Imposters Syndrome – Overcoming Self-Doubts
Robin Williams, Richard Nixon, Oprah Winfrey, Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh, Marilyn Monroe, John Steinbeck, George Washington, John F Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, and many others struggled with their self-esteem and thought themselves imposters at some point during their lifetime. Why do so many successful people struggle emotionally and psychologically? Why do they often feel that…
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What Does A Widow(er) Do With The Wedding Rings
by Richard Dri A RING IS A SYMBOL OF “TILL DEATH DO US PART”. HOW DOES A SURVIVING SPOUSE PROPERLY HONOUR THE RINGS THAT ACCOMPANIED THAT VOW? When Mary died, I tucked her wedding and engagement rings into the safe. I’m still not sure what to do with them – or my own rings. My…
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Avoidance is a big part of dealing with Grief, Trauma and Despair.
by Cynthia Mascarenhas RN, LNCC While your immediate grief response is a fear that you will forget, your immediate trauma response is a fear that you will always remember; the reality is daily you work hard to not remember – the person you loved and lost or the person who failed to love you and…
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Epitaph – Words of Hope
Epitaph is defined as “words written in memory of a person who has died.” Sometimes it’s a phrase or a sentence that captures the essence of the person. An epitaph is frequently seen on a tombstone of someone who has passed away. It’s also the title of a beautiful poem by a woman named Merrit…
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God, Football, Sex and Gold-diggers
by Fred Colby Admit it! How often have even the most devout of us chosen to attend a football game (or other favorite sport or activity) instead of church? Or instead of spending time with your family? Or instead of honoring a previous commitment to a friend? If you are a churchgoer, you might be…
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The Fourth Turn
By Michael K. Burroughs I had just turned 71 when my dear wife, Jan, passed away. We were four months shy of our 52nd Anniversary. Her doctors never expected her to make it to our 50th, following her third stroke that made her an invalid. They expected another stroke at any time, as she had…
Widowers Support Network 