Year One of Grief

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It's NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. But like many times after the loss of my sweet wife Pam it can also stir a wide range emotions from sadness to joy. In this particular episode I bring back a story from a couple of years ago about an amazing what I call "God Encounter" at a college basketball game. Trust me, if you have not heard this...

In this episode we will be answering a question from a listener in Australia who lost their wife 4.5 years ago. However, people still want to tell him how to live and he wants to know how to get them to stop. I've also got a story about how a simple TV reality show made me break down in tears. But the highlight of the program has to be a long awaited sign from heaven I received.

I think all of us that have experienced loss can agree that grief can be tricky. Just when you think you're getting better, something gets triggered and we take two steps backwards for every single step forward. However, there are things we can do to help. One thing is exercise, I know, it's not always the top of our list of things to do. However, when it comes to battling the blues, exercise can...

As a widow, widower or anyone for that matter that has experienced great loss, we sometimes say things that to those looking from the outside, looking in may appear to be insensitive. But in reality we are simply expressing our true feelings which for some can be difficult to accept. We often end up apologizing for things we said when in reality we meant what we said. When you get right down to it...

Ever since my sweet Pam was called to heaven, I've had this belief when I get there we will pick up right where we left off here on earth. The only difference being we will be young and have these incredible new bodies. However, as I start to think more about my own mortality and heaven I've come to believe more and more that marriage may not be what I was expecting in heaven. In fact, there may b...

I just celebrated my 40th wedding anniversary. Now you are probably saying how can that be, your wife, Pam is in heaven these days. The way I see it, I'm still married but now we have a long distance relationship. So instead of dreading special dates I always try and do something special. This year was no exception. But as I celebrated I also did some giving, and the more giving I did the better I...

I often tell people when I met and married Pam I felt like I'd caught lightning in a bottle. There was no doubt I married up...I mean way up. Just look at her, 5 foot 4, 115 pounds, beautiful figure and a personality to match. We did everything together, and I mean everything because we were not only lovers but best friends. While I have had opportunities at a new relationship in the past couple o...

This episode is literally all over the map. We will be talking about how memories are good, but we much rather have the present day with our loved ones. I also talk about the 3rd season of After Life being released on Netflix and how Ricky Gervais once again hits it out of the park when talking about memories while visiting the grave of his late wife. I was on the road for a week with a co-worker...

You don't need me to tell you that loss triggers a number of emotions. And as you have probably already been told, we all grieve in different ways and for different amounts of time. For many of us we also see our emotions heightened to the point of where simple reminders of places, songs, movies, etc., can trigger strong reactions. For me, I can honestly say since losing Pam, any and all of the ab...

Loss, being a widow, widower and grief are so very difficult. Often I produce programs to provide comfort and hopefully and uplifting message. However, tonight was one of those nights when that was simply not going to happen. Instead a simple HGTV program called My Lottery Dream Home stirred some tough emotions that sent me down a dark path. The good news is if you are struggling with loss and hav...

This time of year can be especially hard on folks that have lost loved ones. Am empty chair at the table, traditions seeming to not mean as much, struggling with the nonstop drum of holiday songs everywhere you go. However, I discovered a beautiful letter recently written from the perspective of someone in heaven letting their loved one on earth know that everything is going to be alright. I love...

When you lose a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, parent, grandparent or maybe a pet, job, home...Any way you cut it, loss can be very difficult on even the strongest of people. In the early days of your loss it will seem as if all good in the world has been taken away and you have nothing to be thankful for. However, as time continues to march forward you will eventually see some good things...

First off, I have a new day job to share with you but after that bit of news we are going to talk about 3 different social situations or events I found myself in recently. Of those three, two I moved forward in attending while one I stepped away from. How many of you have found times where you were able to attend something but just really didn't want to. Often times you push forward and it turns o...

We all agree that loss is so incredibly difficult. But what if in addition to losing a loved one you also gave up your family, your country and everything you ever had in life to escape to a foreign country. That truly is sacrifice and loss beyond what most of us have experienced. I met such a person recently in today's podcast I share with you her story.

I recently had the opportunity to be the guest on radio talk show in California to talk about the loss of my sweet Pam and how the grief journey has been since she left for heaven. In that program we took some calls from listeners. One question that came up, and has come up several times over the past couple of years had to do with people trying to tell you what to do. In today's program we talk a...

Last year I stumbled on a new Netflix series featuring Ricky Gervais as a fairly young widower trying to make sense of life after losing his wife far too young. Gervais is also the director for the program and while he may not have experienced the loss of a spouse in real life he truly nailed the emotions as if he had. I talk about how this program has made an impact on me in my grief journey and...

This is nothing new, but no matter how much we plan out our lives, there are going to be disappointments. At the same time, over the course of life we often have our expectations met and often exceeded. But...it's those times when life falls short that we can drift into a period of sadness. Loss of a loved one can be one of those triggers. At the same time, despite loss we can still have high expe...

Thru the course of life we have many significant dates. Some are special, sweet and happy. While others can be painful and for the most part we just wish to forget them. One thing I've learned about grief is I don't need reminders of the day my sweet bride went to heaven. Instead I prefer to remember many other dates, dates filled with happiness and not sadness.

I hear from people every day who are amazed that I will now take a trip alone without my sweet bride Pam who's in heaven. However, I find the experience to be exactly what I need as I continue my healing after losing my best friend and lover of the past 30+ years. In this episode I explain how when you elect to not travel you are closing the door on something that provides great comfort, relaxatio...

Being patient can be challenging. Especially when we want something we think is so very, very important. However, I'm learning if we simply step back and take account of our blessings we can quickly change an anxious, impatient mindset into a thankful mindset. And trust me, it's a beautiful thing.

It was one of those days when I started thinking a little too much about my loss of Pam and how it really pisses me off that God took her instead of me. Had God have taken me first Pam would have been left with plenty of money and with her sexy body and beautiful smile she would have likely landed some guy with six pack abs. Instead, God took her first and I'm left still needing to work for a livi...

We often hear about dreams that have special meaning. Recently I've been dreaming a lot. However, one dream I had affirmed my faith in God and Heaven stronger than any I've had before. It involved a former co-worker that experienced the loss of child thru a miscarriage and reminded me of one my sweet Pam experienced as well many years ago. I hope you will take time to listen to this very powerful...

I'm nearing the end of what has been a two week long road trip with the past few days having been spent in the Black Hills of South Dakota. While traveling without my sweet Pam doesn't have the same kick it had in the past it has still very good to be out on the open road, seeing the sights and meeting some fascinating people. In this podcast I want to share with you three different experiences I...

Five days ago I decided it was time to hit the road again. I had no final destination and certainly no time frame for getting anywhere. So far, it's worked out pretty good. However, I still have my moments. One thing I have discovered is I could care less if I ever get back and would be fine wandering the country for months and maybe even years.

I find one of the best things I can do for my soul and general mental outlook is to hit the road. Of course my traveling companion Pam is in heaven these days but I still find getting away always lifts my spirits. In today's program I'm off on another trip with no agenda and no final destination in mind.