Year One of Grief

It's my 39th wedding anniversary and the second one without my sweet bride Pam who went to heaven shortly before our 37th. For the second year in a row I decided rather than having a pity party I would take an anniversary trip. So how has the second year been?

It's my wedding annivesary weekend. For you it may the anniversary of when you lost a loved one, a job, a business, a pet. Or, maybe it's your wedding anniversary birthday etc. When it comes to special dates you have a few choices. Ignore, Self Pity or Celebrate. Here's what I decided to do.

Often times in the days, months and years after a loved one has departed to heaven we may be overcome with guilt and regrets about how we should have done things differently in their final time here on earth. However, nobody knows the time nor the hour when life is going to end. In this podcast we explore the thoughts of regret and feelings of guilt.

Church is a place where people come together not only for worship but also a place to feel connected. However, for some singles, divorced and widowed folks the church can be a very lonely place. Do we need a new and different church to meet these needs?

We all agree, the year 2020 came with plenty of challenges. However, the new year is starting with a lot of "first" for me, many of those "first" I try to view as positives. In this podcast I talk about change and how we all can learn to adapt, even when it seems impossible.

As I enter the second year of my journey without my lifelong partner Pam, I'm learning the value of family and friends in the healing process. In this episode I talk about my cross country move and reconnecting with family and friends.

As we all know, the holidays can be a challenging time for everyone. But, for those that have experienced loss the temptation is to simply forget and skip the holidays. However, that's generally not a good idea. So how can we keep moving forward during the holiday period? In this episode I talk about what works for me and keeps me moving forward.

Often times when we experience significant loss we often want to get away, start over and try to forget the past. However, from first hand experience I can tell you it is wise to take your time before making a move too quickly. In my case I waited 15 months before I finally did decide it was time for a fresh start. In this episode I talk about how moving from the Pacific Northwest back to near my...

Following loss we can often get trapped in memories. Yes, memories are good but we also need to work at building new memories as part of the healing process.

Experiencing great loss can trigger a number of emotions. One of the most common is the feeling of needing to move away from where you may have experienced the loss. Most experts agree you should wait at least one year before making a major decision like relocation. In my case, I wanted to leave the first week after losing my wife. However, I decided to wait 14 months and I'm glad I did. Why? Well...

One question I've been asked more than once regards when you lose your husband or wife, how long do you keep their cell phone. For those that have experienced loss you know how difficult this simple task can become. In today's podcast I answer the question and the answer may surprise you.

Every day I pulled into our garage and saw a pair of beach chairs hanging from the wall. Those were mine and Pam's beach chairs. But now, there is no Pam...just me. So, I decided it was time for the beach chairs to go. Turns out it was bit more emotional than I anticipated. Maybe you've had a similar experience. Question or comments should be sent to: thejackchurchshow@yahoo.com

This espisode is in response to an email from a listerner asking about how death can change a person. In my case after the loss of my wife the changes have been profound. And for the most part for the better with some surprising  results.

In today's episode I answer a listener's question regarding creating a new identity after the loss of a spouse. If you have a question you would like discussed send me a note at:  thejackchurchshow@yahoo.com

After the loss of your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend you are then a certified member of the "uncoupled" club. For a time you will need to grieve your loss. Eventually you may decide it's time to get back in the game. What game you ask? Well, it's The Dating Game and it can be complicated. In this podcast you will learn just how tricky it can be.

Losing a loved one is devastating. However, in our grief journey we must learn the difference between "living" and "visiting"  the past. In today's episode I visit a piece of the past by taking a trip to Crater Lake while avoiding the trap of living in the past.

The pandemic has been life changing for most of society.  With all the changes to daily living it has caused many to question exactly what day it is and am I going crazy? The good news is...You're Not!

I love the Tom Hank's movie a League of Their Own. Of course one of the classic lines in the movie comes where Hanks proclaims "There's no Crying in Baseball". However, in real life away from the movies some people, in particular men are told not to cry. I'm here to tell you that's terrible advice. Crying, whether you are a man or woman can actually be very beneficial, and in this podcast I explai...

Many of you may be members of a local church or synagogue. We are often members to feel connected to other believers and to have someone to share our lives with. But what happens when you experience loss and the church goes silent? In this episode I talk about how in my time of need all I heard were crickets. However, I also took this time to learn something very valuable.

The news we see and hear on television, radio and via our mobile devices is not very good these days. That's why it's important to tune it out which we'll do wonders for your grief recovery, no matter what the loss. In this podcast I give you some examples of how to tuneout as well as a great example of how tuning out helped one person stop taking some medications.

So I made a huge move today. I tossed Pam's medical files and it felt good!

Following the loss of my wife I've discovered the one thing nobody ever wants to talk about is the loss of intimacy. It's real and hurts, but how do we address it?

It's been exactly one year since I lost my sweet wife Pam after 30+ years of marriage. So, how have I been. What did I learn? Oddly enough, it's actually been a pretty good year because I believe thru her passing it has pushed me in directions I never dreamed and I've become a stronger person.

I recently stumbled across a new show on Apple TV called the Ted Lasso Show. To say this show was a pleasant surprise would be an understatment. Even more surprising is how the shows main character Ted Lasso really impacted me and possibly others that have experienced loss and we manage to keep moving forard.

The news is filled with negative news these days and at times it can be overwhelming. However, "IF" media outlets wanted to there is a way to always put a positive spin on bad news. In today's podcast I give a couple of examples along with some advice from late wife on how to live life in the future.