I became widowed in 2017, days before my 28th wedding anniversary. My husband, Robin, lost his battle with ALS. He was 51.

Having married immediately upon graduation from college, I had never lived alone, nor had I worked full time outside the home in over a decade.  Feeling isolated, I was desperate for help. I needed an honest confidant. I was relying, primarily, on my daughters, which wasn’t healthy or convenient for them.

I completely understand how difficult it is to find resources, support, and answers for the bereaved. That is why I created a space that encompasses “all the things.” My goal is for you to gain knowledge and control before beginning conversations; Widow101.com is a research source to gain insight to comfortably ask your banker, broker, and insurance agent questions before making decisions.

Widow101.com is a landing page for all things widow. There are articles on grief, faith, travel, pets, home maintenance checklists, buying a car, and cooking for one. In addition, there are links to grief blogs you can follow, @widow101com Instagram account, Facebook page, YouTube, and even an Amazon store link (eventually)  with helpful product recommendations for those living and launching alone. You can also find quick click links to major medical facilities in the country, social security, IRS, Triple AAA, Apple Care, and identity theft.

None of us signed up for this life, and yet here we are. We can retreat, or we can tackle life like one big launch party. You do that by researching. Showing up to your life armed with even a smidgeon of information makes the journey seem doable.

Elizabeth Wooten