Jul
This past weekend I attended the National Conference on Widowhood in San Diego, CA. You may be thinking, why would anyone want to gather with a bunch of people who are probably wearing black, morbid and crying all the time.
Well, as a widow myself, let me demystify the myth of widows/widowers - the attendees were primarily women (there was one brave man) ranged from the ages of 25 to about 75, came from 28 states and 6 countries. There were no black veils or gloves and yes a few tears were shed but the bond of a group that all experienced the same loss of a spouse was incredibly empowering.
The conference sponsored by The Soaring Spirits Loss Foundation provided educational seminars and social gatherings all with the intent to empower, strengthen and provide hope for the future.
This event truly exemplified the mission of Circle of Strength - to inspire, empower and have more fun. The buzz around the conversations were about life… about life cut short and a life well lived and about what is yet to come.
The grieving journey is hard, it is painful and it takes time. But most people on this journey seem equipped to make their life work in meaningful ways. I have found more optimism among widowed people than most others, because if they lose their worldly possessions it doesn’t compare to the loss of their spouse.
The lesson learned in general was that a group of like-minded or life-experienced people can be powerful, empowering and provide great strength. Look for a group of like-minded people in your area, check places like Meet-up.com, or a business associations or a business network group in your area. Check out community education in your area, they offer short classes in many topics from cooking to learning computer skills. The point is, there are many ways to connect and be empowered by people, no need to feel alone – so broaden your connections and get out and be inspired!
Tags: Empowerment, Inspiration
