Have you ever wondered how grief can completely change the direction of your life—and even help you discover your strength?

I had the honor of sitting down with guest Rachel Blatt to explore her journey through sudden loss, the unexpected ways she coped, and how she’s found meaning and new purpose. Highlights from our chat include:

• Rachel’s Widow Story: The shocking diagnosis and rapid loss of her husband, Dave, to a rare form of sarcoma, and how she balanced caregiving, parenting, and her own survival during and after his illness.
• The Early Days of Widowhood: Why she dove into life with a sense of urgency—traveling to Paris, sending her sons to camp, and even adopting a new dog in a moment of “manic” decision-making.
• Navigating Grief with Kids: The unique challenges and bittersweet solutions she found to help her boys cope, especially around Father’s Day and family milestones.
• Distraction Actions & Dating Again: Rachel’s candid take on seeking distraction (including jumping into dating), the guilt and judgment widows face, and the unexpected friendships that blossomed from those choices.
• Healing Through Writing: How Rachel’s lifelong love of writing became a lifeline in her grief, leading to published work in The Washington Post and a supportive writing group.
• Signs and Spiritual Connection: Fascinating stories about connecting with her late husband through signs, lost-and-found wedding rings, and sessions with mediums.
• Becoming a Grief Educator: Rachel’s journey to becoming a certified grief educator with David Kessler’s program, the insights it brought her, and the importance of “witnessing” grief in a safe community.

This conversation is packed with wisdom, relatable moments, and hard-earned hope. 

Don’t miss it—follow Rachel at @widow-tales on Instagram and Widow Tales on Substack!

Get the newest Widow 180 Workbook, The New To Widowhood? Start Here! Workbook at https://www.widow180.com/newwidow

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