Progress

Yesterday I was able to help someone with my new language skills, and I found, to my surprise that it helped me also.
Learning a language consumes time.  It forces you to leave grief behind and concentrate on learning.  It recreates you in a way, opens new avenues, new adventures.  Learning Spanish has led me to a online group of learners.  I've also met a few people in-person who are further alone in the language.  It has changed me from the tragic widow, to the woman with a new life ahead of her. 
Learning a new language is the best way to do that.
There are research studies about how learning a new language could put off dementia.  When I'm studying, I can feel the mental strain.  It's sort of like a different part of my brain is being taxed.  In the early days it seemed overwhelming, but now it's coming easier.
I'm having a ball!