Bump in the road. Obstacles Stuff in the way When people think about bumps in the road, they usually think of them in the literal sense - pieces of junk or trash on the road while you’re driving that could quite possibly damage your vehicle - or figuratively - something that “slows your roll” while you’re trying to accomplish something. It can mean something different to a widow, believe it or not. Bumps for us can eventually become impossible to forget or ignore. But the damage is less obvious. The last time I took Tony back to the hospital I joked with him: “Here we go again. Hopefully you ..read more

Dearest sisters, supporters, family, and friends: It is with deep regret that I announce my departure from BWWE to be effective February 13, 2022. After seven years, it’s time for me to move forward. As you may know, this is the date that BWWE was founded, which from a spiritual sense the number seven signifies completeness. I feel that I have completed my work and I do not regret any of it; however, my mind, body, and spirit are in need of an overhaul and it's time to move forward. I’ve been mulling at this decision for some time and have recently decided that it’s time to take care of mysel ..read more

Today is International Widows' Day, a United Nations ratified day of action to address the "poverty and injustice faced by millions of widows and their dependents in many countries" and a day that's an opportunity for action towards achieving full rights and recognition for widows. Celebrated on June 23 annually, it's an initiative of the ,Loomba Foundation, launched at the House of Lords in London on 26 May 2005. Following the launch, the Loomba Foundation led a five-year global campaign for UN recognition, which resulted in a unanimous decision to adopt International Widows Day as an annual ..read more

Juneteenth, a combination of June and 19th, is a time to celebrate, gather, and reflect on the past and look to the future. For those who may not know, Juneteenth – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day – is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved (approximately 250,000) in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on June 19 throughout the United States. It is commemorated on the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865, announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Gr ..read more

Today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. In honor of this, we have posted a letter from a widow, Gwendolyn Welch. Please read her heartfelt letter. She reminds us to NOT dismiss professional help. Regardless of where I am or what I am doing, April 24, 2020 will always be on my mind. It was the day that my husband, Arthur Lee Welch, died. We had been married 37 years after dating for 10 years. Right before Arthur died, we had had lunch at home. After lunch, we settled in to watch TV. We laughed and talked, like we always do. We didn’t have a care in the world. Then, Arthur a ..read more

I get it. I do. It’s not a good day and that’s ok. You’re suffering without your Bae and it’s ok. Take all the time today that you need. Because, it’s ok. Sending you love, sis. It’s ok... Hope this helps... Sabra xoxo ..read more

It’s been nine years and I’ve gone through several stages of widowhood. I decided to sit down and write out the meaning of each year in one word, which represents a personal stage of my life; it was an eye opener. I can’t believe that I’m entering into my tenth year and this year, well, I’m claiming my best year ever! If you’re thinking about giving up, don’t. Try this experiment. Seriously reflect on those things that occurred during those years after his death. And while documenting your current year, claim the affirmative! I dare you. I’m curious to see yours. You got this! Year 1 2012 #Sh ..read more

When I would receive invites to weddings from the engaged couples, I felt as if I had accomplished something. But did I? Although I was three years into my journey, I still couldn’t rack up enough guts to attend the wedding. How would I react in front of the couple that I spent hours counseling? What if they saw me break down? Would they still respect me? Listen sisters, grief is no respecter of time nor persons and it certainly doesn’t care if you’re at a wedding (or even purchasing those Jimmy Choo shoes in your favorite luxury shoe store). Those triggers will and can flare up at ANY TIME ..read more

Do you remember your engagement? Do you remember the joy and excitement of planning your wedding? Do you remember looking forward to being joined with the man you loved? Do you remember... Knowing and feeling that this was the man that had been “sent” for you to be with for the rest of your life? How you felt whenever you thought about him? How you looked forward to seeing him, spending time with him, just hearing his voice; you knew that he had chosen you to be his wife, and you couldn’t wait to say “I do”? Picking the dress? Making the guest list? Cake tastings? Picking a photographer? Writ ..read more

I've been a widow for six years now. You would think that after all of that time and the encouragement to not feel guilty about my husband would have sunk in by now. It hasn't. Not completely. Recently, I heard about a friend of a friend who had to turn off a respirator for her son who had been battling terminal cancer. I felt bad for her, and for him. He fought cancer for two years but it clearly became too much. They decided that he was struggling too much and let him go. That’s a tough decision to make, but I can tell you it goes much deeper than that. What people don't realize about havin ..read more