Hi, I am Jo.

Welcome to the Unwed Widow. Here we grieve again.

This space is for honest conversations about grief in all forms. I created it to work through grief, to talk about the many aspects of it, to share stories, and to offer compassion to those who have grieved or are in the midst of it.

My hope is that this helps even one person feel a little less alone. That it helps one person get through another day. That it helps someone better understand a person they love who is grieving.

I have experienced many kinds of grief, in many ways.

I have known the slow, drawn-out grief of hospice care—caring for my mom, my grandfather, and my pseudo mother-in-law. The kind of grief that begins the moment you hear words like palliative care and keeping comfortable. The kind that teaches you the true meaning of hopelessness—when there is no cure, no saving, no starting over.

I have also known the sudden shock of grief—losing my grandma, my ex-boyfriend, friends, and most recently, my life partner. The kind that knocks you to your knees. The kind that changes you in a moment—forever.

In my most recent loss, I found myself searching.

Where do I fit?
Where is the place for partner loss when you are not technically a widow?

I couldn’t find what I was looking for.

So I created it.

This space is for all of it—
the loss, the regret, the “should haves” and “could haves,”
the dreams, the rituals, the remembrance,
the things that help us get through,
the moments we cling to and the ones we try to forget.

It’s also a place to talk about the less discussed parts of grief—
visitor dreams, signs, synchronicities, the spiritual side of loss,
and the shifting relationships around us as we grieve.

Grief is universal, but it is also deeply individual.
It does not end in weeks or months. There is no timeline.

Over time, I’ve realized we do not talk about grief enough. When we do, it is often in quiet, hushed tones, or expected to pass quickly. But grief stays. It shapes us. It becomes part of who we are.

I am one year into the unexpected loss of my life partner. That loss has taken me down paths I never saw coming: grief coaching certification, learning and practicing Reiki, and now creating this space.

My intention is to work through my grief while creating a safe place for others to do the same.

Thank you for being here.

I am open to your stories, your experiences, and your ideas. If this resonates, I hope you stay, read, and share it with someone who may need it.

Here we grieve again. The only way out is through.