Dealing with Grief and Fears

Although I am not familiar with Christine Caine, an author and speaker focused on empowering women globally, I recently encountered a quote of hers that resonated with me deeply: “Sometimes when you’re in a dark place, you think you’ve been buried. But you’ve actually been planted.”

There was a time when I was a bundle of anxiety. About 13 years ago, I was a mess. I was smack dab in the middle of an emotional nightmare. I wasn’t sleeping. I was obsessed with scary, unsettling thoughts. And lots of what ifs. I just couldn’t help myself. Visits to my doctor…

When I first received the news that I had lung cancer, I felt very sad. After several tests, we suspected it was probable, but I had remained hopeful that it could still be benign. Now, I had the answer. Just hearing the word malignant is scary enough, but then you must accept…

Whether it comes unexpectedly or after a long illness, losing a spouse is traumatic at best. At worst it can be debilitating. I know because, at age 35, I became a widow myself. While many people want to help, it can be difficult to know how…

I am usually a very reasonable person. I taught mathematics, for heaven’s sake, and that is the most logical science in the world! But I was afraid. It was such an irrational fear that I was embarrassed to admit it…

When you are having anxiety or you are worrying excessively, days and nights become fretful and wearisome. Chaotic thoughts and feelings disrupt any sense of calm or hope. Staying preoccupied and distracted creates frustration and overwhelm…

Twenty years of marriage is a milestone worth celebrating. My late husband, Tom, and I had grand plans – a dreamy Caribbean cruise, soaking in the sun, and the love we had built over two decades. “I’m the luckiest guy to have married you, Kathleen! And I’m gonna love you…

If you’re a woman over 60 experiencing anxiety you’re not alone! Anxiety is widespread among women who are aging. However, anxiety that gets in the way of living a productive, satisfying life is not normal. Did you know that women are twice…

Loss comes in many forms. Some losses are tangible, like the passing of a loved one, while others are intangible – difficult to define and often harder to grieve. Ambiguous loss is one such experience: the profound sense of mourning for someone who is still alive. It’s a grief…

Beginning this new year, I had a short list of ideas and topics to record for a new round of videos for my “Aha Moments with Joanie” series. I had mentally prepared the first episode of 2025 around the subject of not letting small setbacks color…