On my good days, I can look at some of the qualities I’ve seen in myself since my husband died and feel proud of how I’ve handled this pain. For example, I see a lot more strength and resilience in myself now. I see a compassionate person, a sensitive person, and someone wiser who can focus on the bigger picture rather than get angry or…
aussie widow
Running On Empty
Do you know that saying ‘running on the smell of an oily rag’? Maybe it’s an Australian thing, but it’s the best description I can think of to explain how I’m feeling today. I’m exhausted and my tank is low. My ‘refuel’ light is flashing and I need to pull up and refuel. So, I’m trying to lay low this weekend and as much as I want to pour my…
My Parallel Universe
I’ve had a really tough few weeks. In some ways, it has almost felt like I’m right back at the start – crying from the moment I wake up without him in my bed until I pass out each night from exhaustion. Thankfully, it has lifted again in recent days but in the depth of this latest low I realised I was withdrawing from the people in my life in a…
It’s Just Not Fair
I was driving home from work recently, singing along to the radio in my own little world, when I passed a car the exact same model and colour as my husband’s. Next thing I knew I was instantly transported back to That Day. The last time I saw my husband, 11 months ago, was around 8am as he kissed me goodbye and left for work. But he didn’t go to…
I Miss You
Sometimes the English language feels so inadequate. I can’t count the number of times I’ve said ‘I miss him’ in the past 11 months since my husband passed away. But each time I say it, I find myself thinking that these three words just aren’t enough to fully capture the ache that is tearing at my body, mind and soul. ‘I miss…
Safety in Numbers
I have been in Sydney this week to visit my husband’s family and also attend a national conference on suicide postvention. The conference has brought together people bereaved by suicide with organisations working in the field of suicide postvention, to discuss the need for services in this area and reducing the stigma around suicide. Pretty heavy…
Empty Fury
I’m sure we’ve all been told that ‘anger’ is one of the phases of grief (coincidently, Stephanie wrote about these on Thursday). I say ‘phases’ instead of ‘stages’ because, in my experience, it’s not a linear process where you graduate from one emotion to the next. Instead, it’s been a messy, complicated jumble that throws us back and…
Something’s Coming
This week has been… interesting. After last weeks post, I head on into my week including attending a combined meeting of two chapters of a lobby/advocacy group that I’ve belonged to for nearly 20 years. Over this period, there have been the various internal issues that arise from time to time in such organisations, and those currently around…
“I’m Okay”
“Don’t lie” shouted my step-dad from the other side of the room. This exchange happened while my Mum was in ICU in April 2008. My dad called to check up, and we had our auto-pilot introductory exchange. My step-dad called it for what it was. My step-dad also said during this time, “Never get married. Loosing a spouse sucks”. Well…
Things Have Changed
At the moment we are in the middle of our city’s ‘Mad March’ that consists of a motorsport carnival, an Arts and a fringe festival, concerts, other sporting events. Many of these things I used to go to, before I met Ian, and after. Last year I didn’t really want to go to anything. I think I went to one event, compared to the ‘record’ a…
The Holidays are Over
Australian children have just come back from their 6-week summer holidays. So have their teachers…. The first year after Greg died, I dreaded the Christmas holidays. All those long weeks of just me and the kids. NO trips away (every holiday doubles in price during the holidays as we all know). No will to do more than walk the tracks to the…
Bridget Jones
I’m on my annual extended-family vacation this week and the Australian summer vacation period is a big time for relaxing with a book (or ten). So I’ve opted to publish a review of the third Bridget Jones instalment that I wrote on my personal blog in October. It was written for a non-widow audience, so is preaching to the converted…