I can not express how much this weekend meant to me. How comforting to belong. How comforting to be still and be able to grieve. How wonderful to be able to lean into our grief, rather than run from it. How encouraging to be able to reach for hope and joy.
This is my second Widows Retreat. My dear friend, Elizabeth founded Soul Widows and organized this incredible retreat in the beautiful mountains of Tryon, NC. It is a place to be supported and to be free to speak of grief. It is not a conference, held at a hotel or a place you can get lost in the craziness and noise. I could speak all day about how wonderful the retreat was, but my friend Bunny writes it much, much better.
Here’s a picture of the embracing alcove where we met daily for comfort and encouragement. 6 widows(one even from Alaska) sat and were able to share their stories, talk about their pain, process through their emotions and be encouraged to reach for joy. I was the “oldest” widow in my two years, until the last day when a widow of 21 years came to share her story. I wanted to hug each of them and tell them, “you can do this. you have got to fight and it will be so worth the fight. Joy does come in the mourning.” 
Art therapy with Bitter Betty ( i say that with saracasm, The Founder Elizabeth, and the Fierce Fairy, our therapist)
Quilts hung all over Marilyn’s Melrose Inn. Beautiful quilts.
Come next time, ok?
would love to do something like this !
send info next time it comes around 🙂
thx.