HOPEFUL HEARTS...LIVING AGAIN AFTER THE LOSS Community Group
We are a group of people who have grieved the loss of a spouse, partner, or lover and are searching for a life without our mate. Some looking for their own identity as an individual or finding a life for themself. Some looking for companionship or a serious relationship with someone new. And some just feeling lost and unsure. We offer encouragement, support and virtual...
OK, I read that some people would like to have more topics than just dating on this forum. Well, here's a start. I am at 2 and 1/2 yrs out. I'm ready to have some fun.....with other widows. There are no widows groups here in my town, not through Hospice or GriefShare except their limited number of sessions in a class. So, I decided I'd start a Meet Up for Widows Only. I call it Widows Wellness and Fun Group.
I told our minister about it and asked if I could get a list of widows in our church (about 500 membership total). I'm a new member since January. I assumed there might be 10 or so. I want us to be able to eat out together, maybe take some day trips, see a movie or whatever. I have waited 3 weeks for this list. Today I finally got the email with the list of about 50 names, no phone numbers or email addresses. The sender says, "Here's the list of all the ladies that are stuck home alone." It included singles, divorced, every situation you could think of where one lady is alone at her home. Talk about NOT UNDERSTANDING. I sent her back a response, thanking her and specifying that I only want to have WIDOWS in this group and would she please edit it to include widows only
Do people NOT LISTEN???? The pastor may have passed the message on incorrectly, or the lady may have taken it upon herself to open up "my group". Thanks, lady. Go back and fix supper for your husband.
Sorry to be so aggravated, but I've been trying to get a group together now for a few months. I never thought it would be this hard. But I'm not giving up. And we are going to be exclusive...only widows....any age. Because we share something in common that NO ONE else shares. I'll let ya'll know what happens as time goes along.
Any ideas? Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Thanks for listening!
I told our minister about it and asked if I could get a list of widows in our church (about 500 membership total). I'm a new member since January. I assumed there might be 10 or so. I want us to be able to eat out together, maybe take some day trips, see a movie or whatever. I have waited 3 weeks for this list. Today I finally got the email with the list of about 50 names, no phone numbers or email addresses. The sender says, "Here's the list of all the ladies that are stuck home alone." It included singles, divorced, every situation you could think of where one lady is alone at her home. Talk about NOT UNDERSTANDING. I sent her back a response, thanking her and specifying that I only want to have WIDOWS in this group and would she please edit it to include widows only
Do people NOT LISTEN???? The pastor may have passed the message on incorrectly, or the lady may have taken it upon herself to open up "my group". Thanks, lady. Go back and fix supper for your husband.
Sorry to be so aggravated, but I've been trying to get a group together now for a few months. I never thought it would be this hard. But I'm not giving up. And we are going to be exclusive...only widows....any age. Because we share something in common that NO ONE else shares. I'll let ya'll know what happens as time goes along.
Any ideas? Any thoughts? Any suggestions? Thanks for listening!
That's why I love Meet Up - you can create groups too. Don't give up if you don't get a huge response the first time out. I know that many Meet Ups don't fit my schedule, but I want to go. Now that I am re-retired, I will be able to go.
I admire you for being proactive. Let us know how it goes. Good luck.
Best regards
Vicki
For some reason, I have always had a lot of girl friends who have been divorced or never married. It wasn't until I became a widow that I understood how difficult their lives could be. I never knew the struggles of trying to do home repair on my own..... or being sick alone.... eating alone, etc. I look back on it now and realize I wasn't always a very good friend to them.
It's true they don't understand the unique loss we have experienced, but they know what it is to be alone, and afraid. I don't in ANYWAY want to criticize you, but maybe you should reconsider having just widows. I know some of the best support I received was from my single friends.
Just a thought..... good luck and keep us posted!
keep on trying to get that list! I know you will be blessed in your endeavors... hugs, Jill
My two friends and I are also started conceptualizing the Widowhood Life Transition group. Actually, so far we decided on advertizing it through the Meetups website, and not a specific church or other institution.
Among many issues we plan on developing a collaboration with other organizations such as churches and funeral homes, hospice the organization that might have expertise and network to work on the practical side of it and specific to widowhood issues.
And of course, we want to focus on providing support.
I have benefited from the group supports and workshops, and want to just make it more available.
It is exciting that we can pass on some of some of the knowledge that we had aquired after years of being widow/ers.
helping others we also help ourselves through sharing and caring.
I'd forgotten about trying to do that.... hope your group goes better.
I'd forgotten about trying to do that.... hope your group goes better.