👣 One Step At A Time...

[Winter2025VA]

Add YOUR STEP below and/or read about steps from OTHERS.

Grief & Loss Team  💛

[Winter2025VA]

What was YOUR step today/tonight?

Grief & Loss Team  ‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌

[VickiJ448878]

Between April 2019 and March 2020 I lost my much old brother (almost 17 years older) who was and extra father figure to me, and 5 days later a cousin who used to live with us when I was a teenager, and then six weeks later my other brother needed emergency open heart surgery, in November my husband's aunt died (she was my first friend in his family), two weeks later my mother died, and three months after that I lost my husband.

As if that wasn't enough, I was dealing with empty nest syndrome from my daughter moving out in January 2019 and our son leaving in May 2020. And then, Covid 19 struck.

when I needed to be around people the most I couldn't. All I wanted to do was sit down and stop. I have two sisters, and if it wasn't for one of them I would probably have been lost. I also have cats who relied on me to survive. I focused on that and made sure I went out to my garden every single day and did work. One day, one step, at a time, year after year. 

I still have my moments, but it gets easier to cope with as time goes on. Focus on small things first so you don't get overwhelmed. My other pieces of advice are staying busy and maybe find a pet for companionship if you're able to do so. Keep on keeping on.

[Winter2025VA]

Dear Vicki @VickiJ448878 , I AM SO SORRY for your losses dear friend. You are indeed one "strong" lady & YOUR ADVICE has helped me right now. Thank you!!!

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

---

@VickiJ448878 wrote:

Between April 2019 and March 2020 I lost my much old brother (almost 17 years older) who was and extra father figure to me, and 5 days later a cousin who used to live with us when I was a teenager, and then six weeks later my other brother needed emergency open heart surgery, in November my husband's aunt died (she was my first friend in his family), two weeks later my mother died, and three months after that I lost my husband.

As if that wasn't enough, I was dealing with empty nest syndrome from my daughter moving out in January 2019 and our son leaving in May 2020. And then, Covid 19 struck.

when I needed to be around people the most I couldn't. All I wanted to do was sit down and stop. I have two sisters, and if it wasn't for one of them I would probably have been lost. I also have cats who relied on me to survive. I focused on that and made sure I went out to my garden every single day and did work. One day, one step, at a time, year after year. 

I still have my moments, but it gets easier to cope with as time goes on. Focus on small things first so you don't get overwhelmed. My other pieces of advice are staying busy and maybe find a pet for companionship if you're able to do so. Keep on keeping on.

---

[Winter2025VA]

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌When YOU can or feel up to it, stop by to tell us about YOUR step for today/tonight.  ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌💛‌‌‌‌‌‌‌

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

It's nice to see you're still here Nicole. My step is to keep going each day with daily tasks. And remember others who are suffering with loss or other things. Father's Day was not easy. Still decluttering lol. 

[Winter2025VA]

MC @mc6844 , ALWAYS GOOD to hear from you my friend!!!  🤗🤗🤗

[Winter2025VA]

‌‌👣‌‌  YOUR steps, YOUR way!!!

Allowing room to experience grief in YOUR OWN WAY can help you heal after loss.

Yes, it is wisdom to read & hear about OTHER JOURNEYS = you may learn something that helps you.

But at the END OF EVERY DAY, you "decide" what is helping or NOT.

Grief & Loss Team  ‌‌💛‌‌

[MarcyW882921]

I apologize that I am one of those people who don't remember the names of actors, actresses, or movies. I recently saw a movie where the character became a widower. He made a statement about not going home because his "wife wasn't there." Then he said something like it wasn't the loneliness in the loss, but the silence. It was all the sounds that his wife made that were missing and created the feeling of emptiness. These words touched me and gave me an aha kind of moment. I hope that we can all identify what it is for us that creates the difficult feelings and find ways to cope and adapt to them.

Marcy

[Winter2025VA]

SO GOOD to hear from you Marcy @MarcyW882921 my friend. Lol, me too - bad with those names!!! Yes, what has been a challenge for me as I age - missing the OLD WAYS of folks getting together. But I try to hang on to this tradition for my daughter. She is flying from Florida for my birthday in Virginia. Lol, she told me there would be NO DISCUSSION. I tend to worry about her bills allowing the plane fare.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

I agree. It's good to note each day what is not helping. 

[Winter2025VA]

.

[mc6844]

My step is to thank those with a caring listening ear to others who need encouragement    

[Winter2025VA]

♻️  Oh my goodness, WELCOME BACK my friend MC @mc6844 !!!  ‌💛‌

What a totally AWESOME "surprise" - you have been MISSED BIG TIME.

Luv,

Nicole  ‌🤗‌‌🤗‌‌🤗‌  (Grief Forum)

‌➡️‌[*** MC wrote:
Thank you Nicole. It's so nice to see you here. Your dedication and help to others is so inspiring. I like the idea that to sit, is a strep. To check in at the forum is a step. I haven't been here in a while. It's a hopeful positive place. Thank you for being here! ***]

[mc6844]

Thank you Nicole. It's so nice to see you here. Your dedication and help to others is so inspiring. I like the idea that to sit, is a strep. To check in at the forum is a step. I haven't been here in a while. It's a hopeful positive place. Thank you for being here!

[Winter2025VA]

‌‌‌‌‌👣‌‌‌‌‌  One step may mean making sure YOU EAT today.

Sometimes our interest in food is gone along with the energy to face each day.

Luv,

Nicole  ‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌🤗‌‌‌‌‌  (Grief Forum)

[mc6844]

Thank you Nicole. Food is energy. Protein each day is very important. 

[Winter2025VA]

I am thinking about YOU & hope you will stop by AGAIN.  💛

@KimberlyM389662 @MarcyW882921 @Cadee2719 

Kim, Marcy & Cadee.

Luv,

Nicole  🤗🤗🤗  (Grief Forum)

[Winter2025VA]

‌SO GOOD to hear you my sis & friend!!!  ‌💛‌

Sounds like you are getting STRONGER & I am SO PROUD of you Kim @KimberlyM389662 .

Please tell our boy Beasley  ‌🐕‌,  I said hello.

Luv,

Nicole  ‌🤗‌‌🤗‌‌🤗‌  (Grief Forum)

‌➡️‌[*** Kim wrote: Hey my sis. I was able to think about a good memory about my husband and actually smiled and laughed. I got a warm feeling enveloping me instead of pain and tears. It was a nice change for a while. Love you much. ***]

[KimberlyM389662]

Hey my sis. I was able to think about a good memory about my husband and actually smiled and laughed. I got a warm feeling enveloping me instead of pain and tears. It was a nice change for a while. Love you much. 

[Winter2025VA]

Pat yourself on your back EVERY time you get out of bed.

Why?

This is the 1st step to starting a DAY full of "possibilities" IF we are open to them.

Possible peace.

Possible hope.

And so on...  💛

[MarcyW882921]

Because I have been granted another day of life, and I can get out of bed! 😊

Marcy

[Winter2025VA]

 I AM SO PROUD of you Marcy @MarcyW882921  👍👍👍

---

[*** MARCY wrote: Nicole, I am getting things done! My roof is on, the gutter company is coming tomorrow, and the inspection company will be here on Wednesday. I've got this. Marcy ***]

[MarcyW882921]

Nicole @Winter2025VA ,

I am getting things done! My roof is on, the gutter company is coming tomorrow, and the inspection company will be here on Wednesday. I've got this.

Marcy

[Cadee2719]

Hi everyone.  Here I am in Idaho!  Moving into my new home tomorrow.  What an adventure!  SNOWED YESTERDAY.  Miss chatting with you but once I settle in, I shall return.  The people here are kind and so welcoming.  ONE STEP AT A TIME.  I hope I survive the unpacking.

[MarcyW882921]

Woohoo Cadee @Cadee2719 you made it to Idaho! How exciting that you begin moving into your new home today. Continue your one step at a time journey and don't overdo. Unpacking will get done in due time. Enjoy the kind, welcoming nature of people in your new location. It makes my heart feel good to know you are in a place where people are nice and you feel safe!

Marcy

[KimberlyM389662]

@Winter2025VA , I really appreciate all of you for helping me and showing me all the love.  I am just a really bad place right now.  Family issues,  worrying about my Mom, financially, physically and mentally. I just feel like it just keeps piling up and I am drowning.  To top it all off,  my deceased husband's 1 year anniversary is the 23rd of this month and I am still figuring out how to live without him. 30 years of marriage and now he is gone