Widow Wisdom

This hopeful and encouraging memoir is Ruth Rigby's compelling account of what it's like to become a widow and to live a newly widowed life. She knew how to be wife. She did not know how to be widow-alone. She longed for another widow's wisdom to guide her, and sought books laser-focused on "How did you live? What did you do? How long did recovery take?" She wanted a story around those difficult questions-a story of how grief made room for happiness. This book imparts her heartfelt wisdom and understanding as a woman who can dwell with you in your experience of loss. After analyzing her own twenty month life-after-death experience, Ruth finally understood how her "widow identity" diminished then disappeared. Grief was a room, but she did not dwell there. This book tells the story of how that happened, invites the reader to personalize the story, and gently nudges the reader to act in ways mindful of happiness. It is Ruth's insight into specific lived experiences that will guide a newly widowed woman to exchange fear of an uncertain future for understanding of how grief can make room for happiness. At the core is a willingness to make changes and live differently. Like the chambered nautilus, she gradually "left the past year's dwelling for the new". She purposefully created room for happiness. This book is for every other woman who seeks a wisdom experience to help live her newly widowed life