Good luck but I did not see the section on the lessons you learned which should be insightful.

Everyone is different. The one piece of advise i can give is never make any major decision in the first few years.

It will be 13 years since my husband passed as well. I could never have imagined living without him, and it's hard to believe that I have made it. It hasn't been an easy 13 years. I have also lost all three of my siblings and their spouses. At times, I feel so alone and very lonely. However, although retired from a job that I held for 44 years, I now work four days a week in a food pantry that provides much-needed self-worth and makes me feel good helping others in need. I still miss my John every single day, and a day does not go by without thinking about him and remembering the love that we shared.

Coming up on 8 years since my wife Juanita died. Just me and my dog Blue and a few friends and a younger brother and his family I recently reconnected with. I've taken a lot of hard knocks, hopefully getting wiser for the wear. I learned a lot here and am surviving. I'm doing a lot of introspection and trying my best to become a better person. Hanging in there :)

10 years for me. Since then both parents, a brother and his wife have passed. It's been very difficult. I basically have no close family left. Luckily I have several really good friends. My advice is same a Shelda's, make no big changes first couple of years.