Whole New Life

After losing my husband to cancer in 2020, I embarked on what felt like an impossible journey—finding purpose in my shattered world. In this final episode, I reflect on the path I've traveled from wife to caregiver to widow to now embracing my whole new life. The grief journey has been anything but linear. I've fallen countless times but somehow found the strength to rise again. Through...

Can your heart truly find love again after experiencing the shattering pain of losing a spouse? Dale and Annie's story proves it's not only possible—it can happen when you least expect it. When Annie posted on Facebook asking for help spreading mulch before her daughter's wedding, she never imagined it would lead to finding love again. Dale, also a widow who had lost his wife to can...

Memory works in mysterious ways after profound loss. Four years after my husband John died from cancer, I've made a startling discovery about grief that nobody warned me about – sometimes I can't remember whether events in my life happened before or after he passed away. This realization initially crushed me with guilt. How could something so fundamental become blurry? What does it mean...

Grief arrives in many forms, and its timing is never what we expect. After losing my husband to cancer in 2020, I discovered that my grieving process had actually begun a year earlier with his diagnosis—a slow unraveling as I watched him slip away while trying to savor every remaining moment. The contrast with my sister-in-law Annie's experience couldn't be more stark: she lost her husba...

Grief rewrites our entire life story, dividing it into clear chapters—before loss, during caregiving, after death, and the future we must now reimagine. In this deeply moving conversation, I sit with my friend Teri as we explore these four distinct parts of our widowhood journey after losing our husbands to colon cancer. We begin by reflecting on our previous lives—relationships marked by profound...

Can you feel genuinely happy after devastating loss? When my husband died in 2020, I couldn't imagine ever experiencing true happiness again. Now, five years later, I've found myself in a surprising place – genuinely happy and yet wrestling with unexpected guilt about that happiness. "I thought genuine happiness was just a dream," reflecting on my darkest days. "Can I feel...

Four of us share the raw truth about what helped—and hurt—our first year of grief. My sister-in-law Annie, Annie's husband Dale, and my boyfriend John join me for an intimate conversation about navigating widowhood together. We reveal the profound impact of simple statements like "you do you" and "it's okay not to be okay" that gave us permission to grieve authentical...

When the future you planned suddenly vanishes, how do you move forward? After losing my husband to cancer in 2020, I faced the incredibly difficult journey of transforming our "we were going to" dreams into a new life of "I get to" opportunities. This deeply personal episode takes you through the evolution of our marriage conversations—from the light, daily check-ins of our 20s...

Grief transforms over time, especially in how we relate to photographs and memories of those we've lost. Four years after losing my husband John to cancer, I've discovered that reminiscing about our life together has evolved from unbearably painful to genuinely joyful. During that first year, I couldn't look beyond the heartbreaking final months of John's illness. Every photogr...

Four years after grief changed everything, I'm returning for my final season to share the culmination of my healing journey. What does it truly mean to accept a new chapter after devastating loss?  This episode takes you through my transformation from a grieving widow to someone who's genuinely, authentically happy again. By sharing raw journal entries spanning from June 2020 to April 20...

As the sun sets on a transformative season of Whole New Life, I find comfort and courage in the company of Wendy, a friend who's been the mirror reflecting my journey from heartache to hope. Our conversation is an open book, where the pages turn to reveal the strength and vision that have blossomed within me since the universe called my beloved husband away. We reminisce about the day in Nove...

Navigating through the stormy seas of loss, I found solace and purpose in the written word, crafting a narrative that would both honor my husband John's memory and offer solace to those on similar journeys. Alongside me, my vibrant 14-year-old niece Evelyn brings an effervescent touch to our storytelling, her love for fairy tales and acting weaving a thread of joy through the fabric of our cr...

With each significant life event, from crossing an Ironman finish line to overcoming cancer and embracing widowhood, my tapestry of tattoos narrates a tale of resilience and memory. Join me as I recount the poignant stories behind each piece of ink—a silent symphony of joy, strength, and survival that adorns my body. StacyRyanAuthor.com

When your world crumbles, how do you find the strength to rebuild it? This episode of Whole New Life is about: YES, I have changed; how can you not after witnessing the person you love the most slowly die in front of your eyes. I will share the struggle as well as the light that can be found in the aftermath of loss. I illuminate the paths that have led me to rediscover my purpose. I share the hea...

When the house you lived in for over 20 years becomes a tapestry of memories, how do you find the strength to let go and begin anew? Join me as I recount the emotional odyssey of downsizing and moving forward following the loss of my husband. We'll explore the tough decisions and deep reflections that come with sorting through a lifetime of shared belongings and the bittersweet task of choosi...

Embarking on a 'Year of Dabbling' after the loss of my husband, I am here to share the beauty and challenges of forging a new path, one dabble at a time. Imagine the courage it takes to embrace uncertainty and the thrill of ticking off experiences from a list you never knew you’d create. This season on Whole New Life, I’m taking you along on a poignant and liberating journey that highlig...

I will share my relationship with John’s sister, the journey of both losing our husbands in 2020 and how we've grown the past 2.5 years. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share some personal journal entries from Aug 2021, when I started to intentionally write down & act on some changes that I felt in my heart, what I learned & how I've grown from each decision. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share how hard it is to understand how I feel myself much less explain it to others and the benefits of finding people who truly do understand. Today’s guest is my friend Maribeth; we will share our stories & a few of our challenges. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share a little about my Jeep girl history and my new off-roading hobby. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share why I chose 1-1 vs. group counseling and a summary of what I learned in my five sessions. DISCLAIMER: This is MY journey of counseling. These are MY reasons for seeking a counselor when I did. This is MY real & honest thoughts going into this. These are MY learnings. This is NOT to be interpreted as professional advice or guidance. It's just me sharing MY story.  Season 1: Ye...

I will share what the difference is between these two phrases for me after losing John & how I manage these feelings. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share the evolution of what my distractions have been since losing my husband and why I live with the motto: no regrets & no expectations. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share what a first means to me, the real & raw feelings I had & a few ways I managed those firsts. I have 3 guests today who are amazing friends of mine & unfortunately young widows as well - Pam, Kristine & Michelle. We will have a conversation about a few of our firsts and how we managed them. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com

I will share how challenging it is for me to relive this part of my life, what an inspirational refresh episode is and why I am doing it. Today's inspirational refresh is about why I make exercise a priority in my life. Season 1: Year of Surviving StacyRyanAuthor.com