Losing a spouse or romantic life partner causes a special kind of heartbreak, loneliness, and disappointment. Your plans for your life have irrevocably changed.
Because everyone mourns differently, guided journal writing is a useful tool for navigating the phases of grief in a personalized, private way. The Widow's Journal is written in a frank yet hopeful style by lifelong journaler Carrie P. Freeman, PhD, a communication professor, who set out to write the kind of book she could have used when, just prior to her thirtieth birthday, she lost her own husband to cancer.
Unlike other bereavement books, The Widow's Journal doesn't tell you what to do, it isn't a memoir or collection of other people's stories, and it isn't limited to any particular spiritual outlook. Instead it provides over one hundred guiding questions (from the practical to the profound) that you can use to progress through the grieving process, culminating in a collection of your most useful insights for reflection.
Freeman's thoughtful questions prompt you to reflect on your feelings, but more importantly, provide a gentle path toward productively coping with intense grief while making plans to build a meaningful new life.
This journal works like a guided diary or workbook, with beautifully decorated pages on which to write and/or color. It is designed to be a useful, caring gift for those whose husband, wife, or life partner has died within the last year.
The author's book website is www.thewidowsjournal.com
About the Author: Carrie P. Freeman, PhD, holds a doctorate in communication and society and works as a tenured associate professor of communication in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Freeman has authored numerous scholarly publications on ethics, journalism, and social movement advocacy. Prior to her academic life she had a human resources career focused on professional development and personal growth training.
Dr. Freeman has been a widow for more than a decade, losing her husband to cancer just before her thirtieth birthday. A lifelong journaler, she used her personal writing to help deal with the loss-and ultimately created The Widow's Journal, a valuable tool for others experiencing the heartbreak of losing a partner.
