Images of Past and Future

Dear Widowed Peeps!
Wednesday snuck up on me, so I am reposting a blog about attending my first 
Camp Widow, in correlation with a Camp Widow happening in this very moment, and 
throughout the weekend, in Toronto, Canada.

The Camp Widow experience features the essence of the support offered to widowed people
through Soaring Spirits International. This blog post breaks down how and why.

New Wids and Camp Widow Alumni! You'll be hearing much about Camp Widow on the Road.
Take a minute to explore the heart of it here through one widow's view. The wonders
listed here are the pieces of both past and future camps, each arriving in their own
special wrapping.

Warmly,
Kathie Neff
Widow's Voice Blogger

The Wonder of a Camp for Widowed People

Blog post from October 20, 2021 — 188 days after my husband died.

 

The Wonder of Peer Support.

This past weekend, I attended Camp Widow as a newly widowed person where you immediately feel that people understand your feelings.

Peer support is the “process of giving and receiving encouragement and assistance to achieve long-term recovery.” Peer supporters “offer emotional support, share knowledge, teach skills, provide practical assistance, and connect people with resources, opportunities, communities of support, and other people” (Mead, 2003; Solomon, 2004).

Camp Widow is a safe haven of peer support.

The Wonder of Familiar Faces

As the mother of Michele Neff Hernandez, there were many tender moments at my first Camp Widow when folks recognized me. They offered kind words, remembering Dan and offering their condolences. The warm hugs and words they offered moved me to tears.

There were fun moments throughout the weekend when I was greeted with, “Are you Mom?” or “Hi Mom!” I also enjoyed the gift of experiencing Michele’s talk “I Miss the Old Me” which I will be featuring bits and pieces of in future blogs. I was so proud to witness her expertise and strong leadership shining brightly all weekend.

The Wonder of New Friends

I met two of my pen pals in person! Lois is my penpal from Colorado, and Shelley is my penpal from the town of Upland which is about a half hour from my home. What a fun experience to meet these two in person after writing and calling each other with some regularity. And even better, it was so great to have them meet, enjoy and support each other. Marilyn, my roommate at CW, and a fellow writer, shared a deepening of our relationship as we walked the path of healing at Camp Widow.

Eight new friends gathered at one table together for the last night’s special dinner. We left with a commitment to see each other again at other camps and to stay in touch via text and emails. Toward the end of the evening we squeezed in for a group photo at the photo-booth as we tried to imagine leaving this safe place the next morning. It was difficult to part.

The Wonder of Love Persevering

During camp the presenters modeled how love lives on. At each of the workshops the presenter introduced “their person” in their slide show and shared stories. It was easy to see the love they still carry for them. This reinforces an intuition that Dan remains with us in signs, stories, and in the love that continues beyond the grave.

The Wonder of Being

At Camp Widow everyone knows why you are there. Informally, throughout the four days, we introduced our partners to each other and/or showed them their photo on the WELL LOVED display. We did not have to explain ourselves. If we felt tearful, we let the tears fall. Kindness was present throughout the spaces we occupied. Love flowed without conditions.

As I write this post, the physical exhaustion is catching up with me. Words fall short as I try to summarize the amazingness of the weekend. I hope you can catch just a glimpse here and in the weeks to come as I continue to unpack the treasures I collected.

WE ARE NOT ALONE

In the meantime, the most important thing I learned is that I am not alone. YOU are not alone.

Reach out, in the many ways that Soaring Spirits offers and avail yourself of the love and support that is here for you.

You deserve it.

 

Sign up today to open your special gift of Camp Widow!