In this informative episode of "Every Widow Thing," Lacey , Whitney, Holly, and Keira speak with special guest Cheryl Martin, a retired grief therapist and recent widow. Together, they explore the complexities of grief, particularly the often-overlooked challenges of the second year after loss. Cheryl shares her personal journey of navigating widowhood and the insights she gained from her professional experience as a grief counselor.

Throughout the conversation, they discuss the importance of empathy, the need for ongoing support, and the reality of living with grief long after the initial loss. Cheryl offers valuable tools for coping, including the significance of allowing oneself to feel a range of emotions, the power of community, and the necessity of seeking help when needed.

Join us as we delve into the realities of grief, the importance of remembering our loved ones, and the ways we can support each other through this difficult journey. Whether you're a widow/widower, a friend, or someone looking to understand grief better, this episode is filled with compassion, wisdom, and hope.

Topics Covered:

• ​The challenges of the second year of grief
• ​The importance of empathy and support
• ​Tools for coping with loss
• ​The significance of remembering loved ones
• ​Finding the right therapist and support groups

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• ​00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction: Introduction of Cheryl Martin, a retired grief therapist and widow.
• ​00:02:13 - Experiencing Grief as a Therapist vs. a Widow: Cheryl discusses her insights on grief after becoming a widow.
• ​00:04:15 - The Challenge of Second Year Grief: Discussion of the difficulties of the second year of grief.
• ​00:06:19 - The Marathon of Grief: Grief as an ongoing journey.
• ​00:08:39 - The Importance of Remembering Loved Ones: Significance of remembering deceased loved ones.
• ​00:10:11 - Navigating Conversations About Loss: How to approach conversations about deceased loved ones.
• ​00:12:07 - Therapist Tools for Grief: Using therapy background to navigate grief.
• ​00:13:26 - Allowing Grief Emotions to Surface: Importance of expressing all grief emotions.
• ​00:15:33 - Self-Care and Grief: The necessity of self-care during grieving.
• ​00:18:02 - Finding Support Groups: Benefits of joining support groups.
• ​00:21:43 - Choosing the Right Therapist: Advice on finding a suitable therapist.
• ​00:25:40 - The Goal of Therapy: Guiding individuals through their grief journey.
• ​00:28:38 - Books and Resources for Grief: Recommended resources for grief.
• ​00:30:10 - Grounding Techniques in Therapy: Grounding techniques related to EMDR and trauma.
• ​00:34:05 - Understanding Dissociation: Explanation of dissociation during trauma.
• ​00:39:13 - Reliving Trauma in Therapy: Discussion on reliving traumatic events in therapy.
• ​00:41:14 - Navigating Medical Conversations: Challenges of discussing trauma with medical professionals.
• ​00:45:02 - The Role of the Therapist in Grief: Therapist's role in holding space for clients' grief.

Okay, grab your comfiest blanket and a big ol' bowl of snacks, because the "Every Widow Thing" crew is spilling all their binge-watching addictions! Make sure to stick around until the end for some interesting new trends for those looking for love!

They discuss everything from the fun and fantasy of "Younger" to the dark humor in "Bad Sisters" and the emotional rollercoaster of the new Bridget Jones movie, "Mad About the Boy."

But it's not all fluff! We're also getting real about how shows like "Shrinking" and "Landman" tackle grief, and how those stories hit home for us.

Plus, you won't believe the wild TikTok trend we found about love at... Home Depot?! Seriously. And why the local grocery store soup station might also be worth a shot!

Whether you need a good laugh or something to make you think, this episode's got your back. So, hit play and join the pajama party!

TIME STAMPS:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Lighthearted Topics
00:00:20 - Current Shows and Recommendations
00:01:30 - Younger: A Fun Fantasy
00:02:39 - Schitt's Creek and Bad Sisters
00:03:27 - Soothing True Crime Shows
00:04:02 - Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
00:05:22 - Grief Themes in Movies
00:06:38 - Shrinking: A Grieving Perspective
00:08:00 - Handling Widowhood in TV Shows
00:10:42 - Cordially Invited: A Family Dynamic
00:12:02 - Landman: A Complex Narrative
00:15:25 - Virgin River: A Mixed Bag
00:16:10 - Home Depot Dating Trend
00:19:07 - Soup Flirting and Closing Thoughts

Every Widow Thing enjoyed a super staycation at the charming Poppy Round Top Airbnb, just an hour and a half from Austin, Texas. Over Valentine's Day weekend, they dove into Mel Robbins' inspiring new book, The Let Them Theory.

Listeners can expect a heartfelt and relatable discussion as the podcast explores how this book resonates with the widow community, tackling the pressures of people-pleasing and the importance of releasing control.

With personal stories and laughs, they share how embracing the "let them" mindset empowers them to reclaim their lives and pursue dreams without the weight of judgment. This episode offers a fun and uplifting conversation, reminding listeners to focus on their own happiness and let others do their thing!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Welcome to Poppy Round Top
Introduction to the staycation and the setting for the podcast episode.

00:00:21 - Mel Robbins' The Let Them Theory
Discussion about Mel Robbins' new book and its relevance to the hosts.

00:01:38 - Insights from the Book
Exploration of key insights from the book and their application in daily life.

00:02:55 - Vulnerability and Control
The impact of vulnerability on relationships and the desire for control, especially in the widow community.

00:03:47 - People-Pleasing Tendencies
Discussion on the tendency to please others and the stress it causes, particularly for women.

00:04:41 - Empowerment Through Letting Go
The empowering message of the book and the challenges of letting go of control.

00:05:56 - Navigating Widowhood
How the book's concepts apply to the experiences of widows and their journeys.

00:07:07 - Judgment from Others
Addressing the judgment widows face from others regarding their choices and timelines.

00:09:21 - Awareness of Control
The importance of recognizing what is within one's control and what is not.

00:10:30 - Expressing Feelings
The significance of expressing feelings rather than suppressing them to avoid resentment.

00:12:24 - Finding Balance
The need for balance in caring for oneself while supporting children through trauma.

00:14:59 - Friendship Dynamics
Reflections on friendships and feelings of exclusion after loss.

00:16:30 - Setting Boundaries
The importance of setting boundaries in relationships and personal well-being.

00:19:06 - The Role of Change
Understanding that change in others can only happen when they are ready.

00:20:38 - Parenting and Control
The struggle of controlling children's lives and the realization of their independence.

00:22:38 - Self-Confidence Through Responsibility
How allowing children to take responsibility fosters their self-confidence.

00:25:24 - The Power of Letting Go
The transformative power of letting go of control and expectations.

00:27:05 - Taking Back Power
The importance of reclaiming personal power after loss and trauma.

00:28:00 - Overcoming Fear of Judgment
The journey of overcoming the fear of what others think and pursuing personal dreams.

00:29:07 - Final Thoughts on Dreams
Encouragement to follow one's dreams and the freedom that comes from letting go of others' opinions.