SEASON’S GREETINGS
Happy Holidays from Modern Widows Club
As the year comes to a close, we’d like to recognize and honor the journey that each of our Wisters (widow + sisters) has made in 2022.
The way you choose to bravely face each day, focusing on building a future that’s full of purpose and self-confidence, is endlessly inspiring. You bring light into the eyes of others, you bring hope to their hearts, and you bring sparkle to the world.
You’re the healing light not only in your own life, but in the lives of your family, friends, and community. We’re in awe of the courage that shines from you as you create new beginnings for yourself every day.
Although the holiday traditions you had with your beloved have changed, and the empty chair syndrome can be especially painful at this time of year, we hope you will feel the power in remembering the love your person brought into your life.
And to our supporters, we’d like to say thank you. We’re truly grateful for all that you’ve made possible during the past year. Your support has helped widows around the globe connect with one another and develop community, friendships, and crucial support systems.
We wish you all a very happy holiday season and joyous new year.
– The Team at Modern Widows Club
MWC SPECIAL EVENT
Saying “Yes” to Love Again
On Tuesday, January 10 at 9pm ET, join your hosts Jen Johnson and Jenn Fortune from the MWC Dating Club for this special Zoom-based webinar.
Dating in widowhood is a big step into the future that brings about many new experiences. Conversations around dating in widowhood are so important so we can learn from one another and grow together. You are not alone, and many have walked this journey before.
Enjoy this special webinar free of charge as part of the MWC Educational Series. You must register in advance to attend. A Zoom link will be emailed to you after registration.
WELLNESS WINDOW
Awareness in the New Year
Each New Year, we may take some time to reflect back but also look forward. For me, it’s a time for renewed awareness of where I am currently, and where I want to be in the future, in many aspects of my life. I identify areas of my life that have a gap and set intentions to reduce that gap.
For many clients I work with, health, wellness, and weight management are top of mind, especially at the beginning of a new year. I often get asked, “If I could make one change that would be the most impactful, what would it be?”
Believe it or not, I think the most impactful change most people can make is not in the “what” they are eating but rather in the “how much.” Of course we can all (myself included!) probably make better choices in the types of foods we choose to consume on a regular basis, but I truly believe that all foods can fit into our diet as long as we watch two things: portion and frequency. If you love French fries, pizza, or ice cream, it’s definitely possible to include all of these foods in your diet — but maybe not every day, and definitely not in super-sized quantities.
“I didn’t realize how much I was eating!” I’ve heard it over and over from people having successes in working toward their healthy weight. It’s easy to be unaware of the amount of food we pile on — especially if we tend to eat what’s in front of us without paying attention to how much is there or how big the plate is.
We are creatures of habit, which can backfire on us if we aren’t paying attention. We may simply eat everything on our plate because it’s there, or we were taught from an early age to clean our plate.
Our body has different energy demands each day. Some days we need to eat more, while other times our bodies require less. With a little more awareness about portion sizes we can form new and improved habits for health.
Click below to continue reading Tara’s article.
YEAR-END GIVING
We Want to Support Every Widow who Comes to Us in 2023
Widows are notoriously invisible in social services and policies, even though 70% of all married women will become widowed.
Research shows the negative impact this invisibility has on widows and their children.
This is one of the reasons Modern Widows Club works diligently to raise awareness about widows’ needs and provide them with compassionate support — and letting them know they are seen, heard, respected, and loved.
“The camaraderie is wonderful and it’s helped me through my widow journey. It’s showed me that I can keep growing and thriving and surviving.”
– Kimberly, Widowed by COVID in 2021
We want to support every widow who comes to us in 2023, and as we approach year’s end, we ask for your help to make this possible. Your gift is tax-deductible.
Thank you for making a difference for #InvisibleWidows.
NOW AVAILABLE!
Modern Widows Club T-Shirts
This tri-blend unisex tee, offered in our signature teal color, is a standard fit t-shirt, typically made with 50/25/25 polyester/cotton/rayon. The fabric is combed and ringspun to create a lightweight tee with a super-soft, premium feel.
The tee is available in sizes S to 3XL. Shown here: size medium (model typically wears a size 6-8/small-medium t-shirt). Size up if you prefer a more generous fit.
MWC TRAVEL CLUB
Looking to Give Yourself a Special Holiday Gift?
How about the gift of fun, friendship, and adventure with your fellow Wisters (widow + sisters)?
In 2023 our Travel Club for widows will take a cruise on one of Europe’s best-loved rivers, the Rhine. In the Fall, we’ll visit New England to enjoy the brilliance of nature’s seasonal finale. We’ll take a Greek isles cruise — and much more!
Come check out all of the great places we’re going in 2023. Our Travel Club is free to join. Your only cost is travel expenses for trips you choose to take.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
A Reluctant Widow’s Grateful Journey
By Paula Meyer
I became a widow on June 1, 2018, at age 54. I knew it was coming. My husband Gary, 62, was winding down a courageous battle with throat cancer, yet his death was still a shock. I hadn’t planned for this. I assumed we would live into a long retirement with travel, grandchildren, and good times. We did do some traveling while Gary was still able. We didn’t have grandchildren yet, so if my children grace me with any, I’ll be a grandma without a grandpa. And good times? Well, life is rough when you lose your partner of 21 years. Two days after Gary died, my children’s father (my ex-husband Brad) died unexpectedly. We had time to say goodbye to Gary, but not to Brad.
Gary was no stranger to major health challenges. In the ‘80s, he broke his back and had stainless steel rods implanted in his spine. He embarked on a healing adventure and met many healers along the way. In the end, he healed his back and had the rods removed. When we met years later, I was amazed by his story and found the long scar down his spine sexy! I learned about the divine light in all of us and the power we all have to heal ourselves and others.
When Gary was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, he was confident he could heal himself again. He tried non-traditional methods and did well, but when the cancer returned in early 2017, he reluctantly agreed to traditional therapy. As the tumor grew, he needed a feeding tube as well as a tracheostomy. He endured chemo, immunotherapy, and radiation. Nothing worked. When he asked a psychic friend for guidance, she told him Spirit said he had healed himself in so many lifetimes that he’d mastered that, and now it was time to move on. He resigned himself to the fact that he was not going to pull off another miracle.
When Gary’s pain became totally debilitating, I told him I wanted him to be free and happy. He had suffered enough. In May 2018, I was headed to Berlin for work, but he asked me to stay instead while he transitioned. It was a gut-wrenching moment for us both.
Click below to continue reading Paula’s article.
MWC ART CLUB
Our Art Club leader, Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe, shares three healing benefits of art in her great blog post. After reading, we hope you’ll be inspired to connect with her and several of your other Wisters interested in using art as a medium towards growth.
Our Art Club meets on Zoom the first Saturday of each month. Our next meeting is Saturday, January 7 at 12pm ET.
To sign up, click the button below and update your mailing list preferences to include mailings from our Art Club.