I'm a Widow - Now What? - The First Two Months!!!

It's been almost two months since Shelton passed away, and my main goal has been to stay healthy: mentally and physically. I've read too many stories of caregivers who have gotten sick, contracted some exotic cancer, and died after their loved ones passed away and I was determined to not be one of those, and to get through this transition on the 'high' side of healthy, with as much brain power as possible.


Physical Health:

I gave myself the gift of a Seven Day Detox: a la The Raw Divas. What a wonderful organization. The detox consisted of eating only raw or slightly steamed fruits and veggies for four days. The first two days were for prep time and education, followed by a day of water fasting, followed by four days of fruits and veggies. Easier than it sounds. That's right, I said easier. In fact, in the days after the terrible shock of losing your life partner (thirty two years, thank you very much), it was much easier to eat simple foods that took no prep, other than cleaning and chopping. In fact, I got into the adventure of discovering fruits and veggies that I don't normally eat. The most difficult part was lugging the stuff home. Bananas are heavy!!!

I also increased my intake of herbal foods: Sunrider's Nurish-Balance-Cleanse system is easy and makes you feel immediately better. Plus I knew I was feeding all of my body's systems, including my immune system, which is the first one to go when you're under chronic stress.


I forced myself to continue my exercise regime of three days a week at the Y, or did stretches and at home exercises when I couldn't get there.

Mental Health:

For my mental health, I signed up for an on line 30 day seminar series called WISH, or Women's International Health Summit. It just happened to be there when I most needed it. Actually I had been rather active when it came to on line seminars. Most of them were free.

And I increased my Tapping, or EFT, Emotional Freedom Technique exercises, a combination of acupressure and meditation,  that immediately calmed my stressed, depressed  nerves.

Was all of this easy? No. But it was better than sinking into that depression that was waiting for me, right around the corner. It kept me physically and mentally active. The on line series gave me something to look forward to each day when a new seminar was posted. The Detox gave me new and interesting foods to eat and shop for. It meant that I was filling up the time that I normally used caring for My Big Baby, with caring for myself.

It also gave me the energy to coordinate a four day Celebration/Memorial for My Big Baby that lasted a long weekend, involved over one hundred people, and took more prep than a convention. It included a Cocktail party, Celebration/Memorial, Repast, and Breakfast. Plus airline schedules, lists of hotels, caterers, program printers, with friends and family I hadn't seen in dacades!

I'll go into detail for each of my mental/physical health programs in my upcoming blog.

In fact, I'll have to start a new Blog, titled - "I'm a Widow- Now What? -The first two months.

See you there!