Journal For Widows/Widowers - How Journaling Helps Heal Widows/Widowers

https://lestallion.com/collections/journal-notebook-for-widows-widowers

Grief after losing a spouse creates a deafening silence where conversation once flourished. The familiar rhythms of shared life vanish, leaving behind questions that seem to have no answers: Who am I now? How do I move forward alone?

During our conversation, we explore how the simple act of journaling becomes a powerful anchor through bereavement. This isn't just about writing—it's about creating a sanctuary for raw emotion, a place where feelings too overwhelming to speak aloud find expression without judgment. We examine how quality journals with features like thick, bleed-resistant pages offer silent permission for uninhibited emotional release, while their substantial presence serves as a physical companion through the journey.

We unpack five effective journaling techniques that provide structure when life feels chaotic: writing letters to maintain connection with your loved one, creating memory lists that celebrate rather than just mourn, practicing gratitude even in small moments, maintaining daily reflections to track your changing emotional landscape, and using guided prompts when the blank page feels too daunting. Through real stories—like Michael who began by simply noting whether he got out of bed, eventually progressing to recording observations that connected him to his late husband—we witness how journaling helps integrate the past into the present while creating space for healing.

Have you considered how creating a dedicated space for your thoughts might open unexpected paths through grief? What kind of journaling practice might serve as your companion through life's most challenging transitions? Your healing journey deserves a sanctuary—perhaps it begins with putting pen to paper.

LeStallion offers premium PU leather journal notebooks for writing, dedicated to all those who are pursuing their dreams and goals, or nurturing their personal development and mental health.

For More Info on LeStallion, check out:
https://lestallion.com/

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this deep dive.
Today we're touching onsomething really significant
navigating grief, specificallyafter losing a spouse.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
It's such a profound experience.
It really changes everythingthe sadness, the silence, the
feeling of being adrift.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Absolutely, and we're going to explore how journaling
something we've talked aboutbefore in different contexts can
be a real anchor during thattime.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Right.
The simple act of writing canbe surprisingly powerful, can't
it?
Especially when dealing withsuch intense emotions.

Speaker 1 (00:30):
It really can, and we're looking specifically today
at bereavement, and you knowhow a well designed journal
might offer particular support.
We've seen those Lestallionjournals before.
Their quality is noticeable.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yes, we're familiar with them.
Their journal notebook forwidows, widowers, yeah, it seems
purpose-built, really Designedto be more than just paper but
an actual tool for processingloss.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
Exactly that's our mission today to unpack how
journaling, maybe using ajournal like that one from
Lestallion, with its specificfeatures, can genuinely help
someone heal, help them moveforward while still, you know,
honoring their past.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Finding that balance is key.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
It reminds me a bit of my aunt carol.
After michael david passed,well, she was completely lost,
understandably, of course mycousin gave her this really nice
sturdy notebook not listallion,but that kind of quality you
know felt substantial.
Okay, at first she just carriedit, didn't write much, but then

(01:28):
slowly she started writinglittle notes to David about her
day stuff you'd find interesting.
Ah, like keeping theconversation going in a way,
yeah exactly Began this private,tangible thing for her Seemed
to bring some comfort.
We'll dig into why that kind ofthing can actually work.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
That's a really touching example and it
highlights something crucial theneed for a safe space.
Journaling offers that a placefor raw emotion without any
judgment.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Okay, so let's get into that.
How does just writing?
How does that actually helpwith pain that deep?
It sounds almost too simplesometimes.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well, it's about externalizing, isn't it?
Taking those overwhelmingfeelings swirling inside, the
sadness, maybe, anger, confusion, all of it, and putting them
onto the page.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
Create some distance.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Exactly Just that little bit of separation can
make them feel lessall-consuming.
And then there's the reflectionpart.

Speaker 1 (02:17):
Right looking back.

Speaker 2 (02:18):
You can revisit what you wrote, see how things shift,
maybe notice small moments ofstrength or, I don't know, tiny
glimmers of hope you missed atthe time.
It makes the abstract grieffeel a bit more concrete,
manageable maybe.

Speaker 1 (02:32):
Like giving shape to something that feels utterly
shapeless.
Yeah, that makes sense.
And losing a spouse, it bringsits own unique pain, beyond just
the sadness itself.

Speaker 2 (02:41):
Oh, definitely that silence you mentioned earlier.
In a house that was full ofshared life it can be incredibly
loud, almost deafening, and theloss of that constant
companionship often leads todeep isolation, fear about the
future, big questions about whoam I now?

Speaker 1 (02:57):
Navigating the world alone again.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Precisely, and that's where journaling can step in as
a way to kind of channel thatemotional turbulence, give it
some structure when everythingelse feels like chaos.

Speaker 1 (03:08):
So let's talk about the La Stallion Journal again.
We know they make quality stuff, but what specific features
make this one potentiallyhelpful for someone grieving?

Speaker 2 (03:16):
Well, thinking about the intensity of grief, a few
things stand out.
Those thick pages, for example,the ones that resist, bleed
through.
That's not just practical, it'salmost like permission,
permission to really pour outstrong emotions, write hard,
maybe even cry onto the page,without worrying about the ink
messing it all up.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
So it supports that raw expression.
You don't want technical issuesgetting in the way of feeling.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Exactly right.
It removes a tiny barrier whenyou need expression most, and
then there's the feel of feeling.
Exactly right.
It removes a tiny barrier whenyou need expression most, and
then there's the feel of it.
The elegant hardcover options,the general craftsmanship
Lestallion is known for.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
It feels more significant than just a spiral
notebook.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
It does.
It suggests it's meant to be apersonal sanctuary, a respected
space.
The quality sort of underlinesthe importance of the healing
process, of taking that time forself-care.
It makes the journal feeldurable, like an anchor.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
And they have a good number of pages too, 211 I think
.

Speaker 2 (04:11):
That's right, which is important because grief isn't
quick, is it?

Speaker 1 (04:14):
Not at all.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Having ample space means you can use it over the
long term, document the journeyand looking back, maybe months
later, at those early entries.
That can be incredibly powerfulseeing how things have shifted,
even subtly.

Speaker 1 (04:28):
A tangible record of your own resilience, maybe.

Speaker 2 (04:30):
Perhaps, and they offer choices too Soft cover,
hard cover, quite a range ofcolors actually Ash, gray, black
, cocoa brown, royal blue.
Then the fancier hardcoverslike black, faux leather,
classic brown, even proactivepurple and visionary red.

Speaker 1 (04:45):
So you can choose one that feels right.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Which matters.
Even in grief, little choicescan feel empowering, and the
fact some colors sell outsuggests people are finding them
useful, connecting with them.

Speaker 1 (04:55):
It does seem like a specific tool meeting a very
specific deep need, and theyhave lined pages, obviously,
which gives that basic structurefor writing.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Standard, but helpful .

Speaker 1 (05:05):
Now going back to my Aunt Carol, her writing letters
to my uncle.
That really speaks to one ofthe techniques often recommended
right Letter writing.

Speaker 2 (05:13):
Absolutely.
Writing letters to the personwho passed is a really common
and often cathartic practice.

Speaker 1 (05:18):
Why does that work so well, do you think?

Speaker 2 (05:19):
It allows you to say things left unsaid, perhaps, or
just to share your day.
Your feelings maintain thatsense of connection, that
ongoing dialogue, even if it'sone-sided physically.

Speaker 1 (05:31):
Keeps them present in a way.

Speaker 2 (05:32):
In a very meaningful way.
Yes, and Lestallion actuallypoints out five key journaling
approaches for widows andwidowers.
Letter writing is one.
What else is effective?

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Okay, another one they mentioned is making memory
lists.

Speaker 2 (05:45):
Ah yes, Actively recalling and jotting down those
cherished moments, shared jokes, special trips, things you
loved about them.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
That sounds proactive .

Speaker 2 (05:54):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Not just dwelling on the loss, but celebrating the
relationship.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Exactly.
It's about actively preservingand honoring the good stuff, the
love that was there.
Then there's gratitudejournaling.

Speaker 1 (06:04):
Gratitude In the middle of grief, that seems hard
.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
It can be definitely, but it's about finding small
things.
Maybe the support of a friend,a moment of unexpected peace,
even just a beautiful memorysurfacing, noting those down,
can be grounding, finding tinyanchors.

Speaker 1 (06:20):
Okay, I can see that.
Finding sparks of light, what'snext?

Speaker 2 (06:23):
Daily reflections, just consistently checking in
with yourself.
How am I feeling today?
What happened today?
How is the grief showing upright now?

Speaker 1 (06:31):
Doesn't have to be profound every time.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
Not at all.
It's just the habit ofobserving your own emotional
landscape.
It builds self-awareness, helpsyou see patterns, maybe, or
track progress, however small itfeels.

Speaker 1 (06:43):
Like charting the course.
Yeah, and the last one.

Speaker 2 (06:45):
Using guided prompts.
Sometimes staring at a blankpage is just too much right.

Speaker 1 (06:50):
Definitely.
Where do you even start?

Speaker 2 (06:52):
So prompts thoughtful questions like what memory
brings me comfort right now?
Or what's one small step I cantake for myself today, or even
what would my partner want forme?
They can provide a gentle nudge, a starting point for
exploration.

Speaker 1 (07:08):
Those sound really helpful.
They offer structure when lifefeels like it has none.
And thinking about theListallion Journal again, the
space, the durability it reallylends itself to consistently
using these techniques over time.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
It becomes that dedicated container for all
these different ways ofprocessing.

Speaker 1 (07:23):
You know it makes me think of a friend, Michael.
His husband, david, was thelife of the party type, always
filling the house with noise andlaughter.
Okay, after David passed verysuddenly, the silence was just
crushing for Michael, reallyoverwhelming, I can only imagine
.
His grief counsel suggestedjournaling.
Michael was skeptical, reallywasn't sure.

(07:44):
He started super simple, justnoting down basic facts about
his day, what he ate, if he gotout of bed.
Small tasks he managed Just thebasics.
Yeah, but then gradually hestarted adding little things,
observations, things thatreminded him of David, like
finding a half finishedfinishedcross where David had started,
or hearing their song on theradio.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
Ah, connecting the present back to him.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
Exactly.
He told me later that writingthose small details down it
somehow made David's absencefeel less absolute, like he was
still noticing the shared world,even though David wasn't
physically there to share itwith him anymore.
The journal became a place forthat Noticing the shared world,
even though David wasn'tphysically there to share it
with him anymore.
The journal became a place forthat.

Speaker 2 (08:21):
That's a beautiful illustration of how even simple
daily reflections can beprofound.
It's about maintainingcontinuity, finding a way to
integrate the past into thepresent, even amidst the pain.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
It really shows how valuable that consistent private
space can become.
It doesn't have to be eloquent,just honest.

Speaker 2 (08:40):
Absolutely.
Authenticity is key in griefjournaling.

Speaker 1 (08:44):
So, as we kind of wrap up this deep dive, what's
the main takeaway here?
What should people hold on to?

Speaker 2 (08:53):
I think the core message is that journaling is a
genuinely valuable and reallyadaptable tool for anyone
navigating the incrediblydifficult journey of spousal
loss.

Speaker 1 (09:00):
Give it to safe harbor.

Speaker 2 (09:01):
Precisely A safe place to express, to remember
and, slowly, gently, to find away forward.

Speaker 1 (09:07):
And having a dedicated journal, something
well-made like the ListallionOne, designed for this purpose,
you can really enhance thatprocess.
It's not just blank pages, it'sstructured support.

Speaker 2 (09:16):
Yes, it signifies an intention, creating that
deliberate space for your innerworld when the outer world has
been turned upside down.

Speaker 1 (09:22):
Well said, Okay.
So here's a final thought foryou, our listeners.
Think about this how mightcreating your own dedicated
sanctuary for your thoughts andfeelings, especially during big
life changes or losses, open uppaths to healing?
You haven't expected.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
What kind of space works best for your journal
maybe, or something elseentirely?

Speaker 1 (09:43):
Something to consider .
Thank you for joining us forthis deep dive.