Susan, your host, is joined by Barbara Kenyon in today's episode. Barbara knows what it is like to be widowed twice. The first time was after nine years of marriage when her firstborn child was only two months old, Barbara's beautiful husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he died eight weeks later. Barbara's world came crashing down. She had to face the fact that her new life together with her husband and her son would never come to be, Through counseling and with the support of family, friends, and other widows, Barbara learned how to navigate the enormous challenges of widowhood, she learned how to take really good care of herself, she gained great clarity about what she wanted for her life, ultimately she courageously took the leap into dating again, and five years later she married Allan Kenyon, who at that time was the love of her life. For the following 30 years, with a solid background and counseling and coaching, Barbara had been helping widows, and widowers find joy and purpose in their lives. Suddenly and unexpectedly, her sweet Allan passed away in July, and Barbara was widowed once more. This time, she faced widowhood with the experience and maturity she didn't have the first time. In today's episode, Barbara shares some of her best tips for navigating widowhood and living your best life and references the motivational book Barbara and Allan wrote together, Fire Up Your Life Now: 25 Secrets for Creating the Life You Really Want.
Key Takeaways:
Susan shares an important message for listeners.
Barbara shares her grief story.
Dating as a widow is fundamentally different from dating at another moment.
Barbara talks about how common it is for widows to place their spouses who passed on a high pedestal; if they don't accept them as they were, grieving and dating again will be tougher.
Step 1 when you are dating, proceed with caution with any divorced man, make sure he has found peace with that relationship.
Three aspects can shift your dating energy: Be authentically you, know what you are open to, and ask for what you need.
Barbara tells the story of how she met Allan.
Susan talks about her dating experience and how she recently met someone special.
Barbara describes the seven-step process for widows to start dating again and find what they want.
Barbara talks about the biggest challenges that widows and widowers have entering the dating world.
It takes perseverance to find the right person.
Don't settle for anything; if you sense something is wrong, listen to your intuition. The little things now become the big ones later.
When a relationship is right, it is easy!
Barbara shares the reason why she is dedicated to helping widows and widowers date again.
Barbara emphasizes the importance of focusing on the present moment.
You grieve the way you live.
Trust your gut and remember you can become the best version of yourself.
Resources
Email Susan: susan@tendrilsofgrief.com
Meet Barabara Kenyon
Fire Up Your Life Now: 25 Secrets for Creating the Life You Really Want, by Allan and Barbara Kenyon
After Widowhood: The Secret to Finding True Love Again, by Barbara Kenyon
