My guest this week on the podcast is MaryJo Newell. I've known MaryJo from really close to the beginning of her widowhood story. A few years later, I can see the changes in her, the growth, and her transformation of becoming who she is today. Join us in this conversation as she shares her insights, perspectives, and things she's learned about life and about herself.

We chat about:
~losing her husband in January 2020 and navigating loss, grief , and COVID isolation all at once
~how Facebook was her outlet and connection during COVID
~her decision to move despite people telling her what to do.
~dealing with guilt over feeling better!
~making the decision to give yourself permission to move forward in life
~how she learned to find new hobbies and new friends
~how she chose to travel solo and how it changed her world!
~her genius advice about going to concerts!

Mary Jo is such a light and such a joy!
If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Also, please leave a nice rating and review for the podcast so we can reach more widows around the world!
Thank you!

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

Ryane Moates joins us this week for a candid interview about losing her husband and her journey through losing her confidence, losing her faith, and losing hope.
She shares what she did to welcome God back into heart, what she did to regain that confidence, and what she chose to bring purpose and meaning into her life through her YouTube channel, Ryane To The Rescue!

We talk about:
~ how she lost her husband John 7 weeks after a horrible biking accident.
~How she embraces the word "acceptance"
~when she decided to take off her ring
~ How she struggled with her faith
~How she was able to rebuild confidence
~How she decided to launch her YouTube channel
~How she write her new book, Field Guide For Widows

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

This is Part 2 of my interview with Eva Still, widow, author, yoga therapist, and retreat leader.

In this episode, Eva walks us through some helpful breathing exercises to calm and regulate our nervous system when we feel anxious.
She also mentions several books that she recommends for grief and mindfulness. Here's a list:
Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief (David Kessler)

Writing to Heal the Soul: Transforming Grief & Loss Through Writing (Susan Zimmerman)

Anxious Grief: A Clinician's Guide to Supporting Grieving Clients Experiencing Anxiety, Panic & Fear(Claire Bidwell Smith)

Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory (Deb Dana)

When Life Hits Hard: How to Transcend Grief, Crisis & Loss with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (Russ Harris)

The Chakras in Grief & Trauma (Karla Helbert)

In Spanish... El Duelo Duele... y eso está bien (grief hurts... and that's ok) (Camilo Russi)

Breath techniques:

Physiologica sigh - two sips in through the nose, filling the lungs, long slow exhale through the mouth

Lengthen the exhale - inhale for four, exhale for five, six or seven

Box breathing - inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4, inhale 4... etc.

Grounding/self-soothing

Butterfly hug - bilateral stimulation, hands crossed on the chest or to the opposite shoulder, gently tapping while breathing deeply

Orienting - look around your space and name three things you see

5 senses orienting - name something you can see, hear, smell, feel touch

You can reach Eva at:
Instagram @evastillyoga
Website: https://www.evastill.com

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

Today's podcast guest, Eva Still, has an incredible story to share! Her life has taken her down so many different, unexpected paths and I can't wait for you to hear all about her adventures!

This interview is broken up into 2 parts, so you will hear the first half today, where Eva talks about:
~visits from her late husband and the conversations they had!
~Her take on how the universe is always guiding you in the right direction.
~ how she turned to yoga as a "safe place" to grieve
~ how she spent over a month in Bali getting her yoga training.
~how she quit her job and spent 7months backpacking in South America before settling in Colombia!

I hope you find her story inspiring! I know I did! I hope this motivates you to go out and have your own adventures because life is too short to miss out!

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

Feeling isolated and lonely can be one of the most challenging parts of widowhood. But, that's actually putting it lightly, right?
I know that loneliness is not just a "challenge". It's all-encompassing. It's life-altering. It's anxiety-inducing and triggering.

I also know that a really good quote has the power to to get you through a really bad day.

So, today on episode 187 of Widow 180: The Podcast, I am sharing a selection of quotes that will hopefully strike a chord with you, help bring some self-awareness to your situation, cause some perspective shifts, and give you something to hold onto during this difficult time in your life.

If you would like more help and support with loneliness, be sure to sign up for The Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
The LIVE Zoom session will be held on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST!
Join us at https://www.widow180.com/lonely

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

You know that awful feeling when you find out after the fact that there was a party or a get-together thrown by a friend or family member?
It's the dreadful, gut-wrenching feeling of being left out.
It stings.

Today, I want to offer you 7 tips on how to deal with feeling left out.
These are some things you can do to help soothe the sting of rejection.

For more help and guidance with loneliness, be sure to sign up for our upcoming workshop, Overcoming Loneliness Workshop for Widows.
It's happening on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 8pm EST. This LIVE 60-90 minutes Zoom session will cover ways to help you stop feeling lonely.

Sign up at https://www.widow180.com/lonely

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

"Stay open to the universe and the void gets filled."
These are the wise and brilliant words of advice from this week's guest, Julie Hanrahan.

Julie lost her husband Paul suddenly and unexpectedly on October 27, 2021 at only 33 years old. Julie's life went into a tailspin.
In today's episode she shares:

~how she was struck with PTSD, panic attacks, and breathing problems following the loss of her husband.

~how she decided immediately to sell her house and move to the next town over to start a new life.

~how she had to pivot from her high-stress career in social work to now teaching yoga classes.

~ how she was able to boost her confidence by travelling the world.

~ how her relationship with her dad strengthened after living with him for 6 months.

~how she was able to open her heart to a new love with a new partner!

~ how she is still struggling with the fact that Paul passed away on the same day as her birthday.

~how she is paving her own way in her new life!

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com

Is social media slowing down your grieving process? Find out here!

Do you LOVE Facebook? Are you obsessed with Instagram? Social media has changed everything about the way we interact with each other.
You may see on Facebook that you have hundreds, maybe even thousands of Facebook "friends". But how many of those people really know you? Do they know the struggles you're going through?

Social media can give us a false sense of connection to others.

Find out in this episode how social media could be hindering your healing process.

Key takeaways from this episode:
~ Start noticing how social media is making you feel. Is it uplifting? Or is it bringing you down?
~ Make an intention to have more face-to-face interactions with those Facebook friends! That's where the true connection happens!

Be sure to join our Facebook group, Widow 180 The Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/312036956454927

Also follow us on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/widow_180/

Check us out on YouTube at Widow 180: The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-DK_dl31qMilJ5cE6t9MVQ

For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com

Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com