In September 2016 I lost my husband, Simon. And, over the past nearly 10 years, as I have grappled with this hugely traumatic event, I have come to realise how much we can learn from the seasons - how much they teach us about our grief journey and ourselves. And none more so than spring - a time when the earth awakens from its wintry slumber, nature comes back to life and the world around us transforms. It has become a hugely meaningful and symbolic time for me. 

In this blog, I want to consider how spring can act as a powerful catalyst for widows - encouraging us to explore ideas of personal growth, renewal and new beginnings, and think about how we can support ourselves through our grief. Although our grief can feel challenging during the springtime, it offers us an invaluable opportunity for post-traumatic growth, a chance to reframe our grief, look forward and consider what we want from our future and how we might achieve it.

Winter - a metaphor for our grief

Winter is a powerfu...