Date: April 9th 2006

THE LOST MY PARTNER NEWSLETTER

VOL. III, Issue 3 March, 2006

Brought to you monthly by Laurie Spector & Ruth Spector Webster, authors of Lost My Partner ­ What’ll I Do?; A Clear, Practical Guide For Coping and Finding Strength When Your Spouse Dies

NOTE: Our new mailing address is:

McCormick Press,

c/o P.O. Box 6877,

Beverly Hills, Ca 90212-6877

Hello and welcome to our newsletter! We know how losing a spouse can turn your whole world upside down. It can also make concentrating on anything, even an online newsletter really difficult. Just as we’ve done with our bereavement book, Lost My Partner ­ What’ll I Do?, we specially designed this newsletter to make getting valuable professional advice “user-friendly”. Each month we offer comfort, reassurance and practical strategies as well as useful tips from our readers.

We want to make this newsletter on ongoing source of support you can turn to any time, so please let us know how we can make it more relevant for you. We welcome any suggestions or ideas that you’d like to share with us.

Let us hear from you at: contact@lostmypartner.com

Thanks for joining us.

Warmest Wishes

Ruth and Laurie

MONTHLY FEATURE

Rediscovering Yourself

Becoming widowed often means adjusting from thinking of yourself as half of a couple to seeing yourself as a unique individual. This process can be difficult, especially if your loss was recent and if your marriage was a long one. If you were young when you married, your sense of yourself was probably more tied in with being part of a couple. You may also be part of a generation that discouraged married partners from developing identities outside that relationship.

Remember that in adapting to this change you were a separate person before you married.Try to think back to that time before the responsibilities and compromises of marriage. What dreams and goals did you have for yourself? What talents and skills were you beginning to recognize but had to set aside because of marriage or a family?

If your loss was recent, it may feel uncomfortable to consider trying new activities. Try taking baby steps such as joining a class or engaging in a long-postponed hobby or sport.

With each step you do take, you’ll discover a growing sense of achievement and rediscover the unique individual you once were.

YOUR QUESTIONS

"I recently met a very nice man in my grief group. Although it’s only been a short time since his wife passed, he says he’s been dealing with his bereavement by seeing a grief counselor as well as being in our group. This man wants to date me but I’m worried. My husband passed about a year ago so I know bereavement takes awhile. Is it too soon for this man to be dating?" Estelle G.

You’re wise to have some concerns. Often the excitement of a new relationship halts the necessary grieving process. It sounds however, like this gentleman is doing the right things. Having professional help with your bereavement can be invaluable in staying on track.

Discovered a coping strategy that works for you? Share it with others in future newsletters. Email us at: contact@lostmypartner.com

If you enjoy this newsletter, please tell your friends and/or colleagues about it.

If you’re interested in obtaining a copy/copies of the book, Lost My Partner ­ What’ll I Do?, telephone toll free at 1-877-727-3814 or visit our website: www.lostmypartner.com

Remember that our new mailing address is: McCormick Press, c/o P.O. Box 6877, Beverly Hills, CA 90212-6877.

(Copyright 2006 by Laurie J. Spector, M.S.W. and Ruth Spector Webster, M.S.W. All rights and all media reserved.)