The Widowers Journey

Category: Grief

  • Cruise 2019: Journeys of Hope, Healing, & Health

  • Men Need To Have Purpose

    Men need to have a purpose in life.  A reason to get up in the morning.  Absent purpose, why live?  I hear it in the voices and read it in the posts men leave on “Widowers Support Network – Members Only” (WSN-MO), a FREE and private “men’s only” page on Facebook.  With the passing of their brides, men lose much of the purpose for which they live.  Purpose enhances a man’s self-esteem.  Purpose provides men the means to see value in their existence.  Perhaps that’s why men become fixers.  If you give a man a problem, he’ll apply a fix to it.  If the fix does not work, no problem.  He will use a second fix.  And he will most likely do it without asking for help.  Why?  Because men hate asking for help.  Example: When did you last see a man ask for directions?  The only thing that saved modern men from endlessly driving around in circles was the invention of the portable GPS.

    Men have a bias for action.  Action is one behavior I would encourage them to embrace.  It’s something I think men benefit from doing.  Want proof of how men are wired to be fixers and have a bias for action?  Let me tell you about my brother Don.  Don and his wife, Kathy, were on a plane.  A young boy seated behind Kathy kept kicking the back of her seat.  Kathy leaned over and mentioned it to Don.  Immediately, Don looked back over his seat and told the young man, “Knock it off,” in a demanding voice.  Kathy was chagrined. “Why did you do that?” she said.  “I didn’t ask you to say anything; I just wanted to tell you what was happening.”

    Fixing things gives men a sense of purpose, and it relieves a lot of frustration.  Yes, having a purpose, even to be a “fixer,” is part of every man’s DNA.

    As I read the painful stories of my brothers on WSN-MO, I cannot help but think that many of them have lost purpose.  A purposewill rarely jump up and present itself to you.  Those widowers searching for a purpose must go out and discover it independently.  I wonder how many of those served by the WSN-MO have yet to do so.  I wonder how many of their wives in heaven wish they would try.

    I wrote about the importance of purpose in my book, The Widower’s Journey.  I can’t encourage widowed men enough to seek their purpose during the next phase of their earthly life.  Frankly, serving as the founder of the Widowers Support Network and the gatekeeper of the Widowers Support Network – Members Only (WSN-MO) on Facebook gives me purpose.  Each day, afternoon, and evening, I have the honor of serving men from around the world in successfully navigating their grief.  For this, I am incredibly grateful.  But I do not rely solely on helping widowed men to satisfy my desire to have a purpose, to contribute to the happiness of others.

    I joined the Knights of Columbus (KofC) nearly seven years ago.  The KofC is the largest fraternal Catholic organization in the world.  While a member of the Knights of Columbus, I served as my parish’s local council’s Chancellor.  As Chancellor, I also served as the sick and visitation committee chair.  In this role, I frequently visited members of the KofC, whether at their residences, nursing home, or hospital room.  The blessings I receive from advancing the agenda of the KofC are immeasurable. 

    During one such visit, I was honored to visit Sir Knight Dan Dittmer (83).  Dan is a combat veteran who served as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot.  Once when flying a mission during the Korean War, Dan lost his plane and was forced to parachute, injuring his back.  Later, during a duty assignment at Pearl Harbor, Dan became friends with the actor Roger Smith (star of 77 Sunset Strip) and his wife, Ann Margaret.  His career later transitioned to a swimming coach, gaining him international recognition, including being recruited by Disney to serve as the Director of Aquatics at Disney World. 

    Given his mature state, Dan most likely did not even know I was there in the room.  But I knew I was in the presence of a giant of a man, a man among men.  And my visit was made possible by my first having the purpose of serving the Knights of Columbus. Another example of purpose was when my wife Maria and I got up early to make twenty-five sandwiches we needed to deliver to an afterschool program for disadvantaged young children.  Again, it gave me purpose. 

    Whether your discovery of purpose is to serve the Red Cross, coach a Little League Baseball team, join a fraternal organization as I did, or volunteer at your local SPCA, your skills and heart are needed by many.  But make no mistake, finding purpose makes you the big winner. 

    __________________________________________________________

    Herb Knoll is a retired banking executive, an advocate for Widowers, a professional speaker, and the author of the breakout book, The Widower’s Journey.  Available at Amazon.com in paperback and all digital formats.  Herb is the founder of the Widower’s Support Network (WidowersSupportNetwork.com), featuring the Widowers Support Network – Members Only, a private Facebook group page for men, and a second Facebook page that is open to the general public at Widowers Support Network.  Herb also hosts the Widower’s Journey Podcast.  Contact Herb at herb@WidowersSupportNetwork.com. 

    Attention Widowers and Men who serve as Caregivers

    Apply today to join the Widowers Support Network – Members Only (WSN-MO) on Facebook.  WSN-MO is a FREE private page exclusively open to MEN who have lost their wife or life partner.  Men currently serving as caregivers for a seriously ill spouse or life partner and other good-hearted men who wish to help assist and comfort them are also encouraged to join.     

    Copyright 2022 Widower’s Support Network LLC

  • Sometimes, Men Need To Have Their Own Sandbox

     by Herb Knoll

    Author: The Widower’s Journey 

    Something was wrong.  Men who followed the Facebook page, “Widowers Support Network,” just weren’t actively using it as a grief recovery tool. Then, in March of 2018, it hit me. Widowed men who sought out the services of my ministry, the Widowers Support Network wanted to express themselves and the grief they were confronted with following the death of their spouse or life partner, they didn’t want to do it in front of (or online with) women.  Duh!  It makes sense to me.  After all, few men enroll in grief groups and those who do rarely complete the entire program.  Why?  I suspect they don’t want to expose their softer side, their tears, their emotions, or their vulnerability in front of women who expect them to be strong.  As one man described it, “It’s not manly.”

    Hey, don’t look at me.  I didn’t create an environment where we tell little boys as early as when they can first walk that “boys don’t cry.”  You won’t find me telling a man who has experienced a significant loss to “get over it!” or “it’s been six weeks, you need to get back in the game.”  Our society created this mess all by itself.  From our governments at the federal, state and local level, to our industries which quickly banish grieving employees off to some frequently lame EAP (Employee Assistance Program) for three one hour sessions with a counselor, and then claim they are doing all they can to comfort and assist their grieving employee.  Really?  

    Why else do you think our soldiers come back from wars and don’t even speak about the horrors they witnessed? Is it any wonder research found the suicide rate among widowers to be 3-4x higher than that of married men?  Want more proof? All you have to do is look at how many books have been released in recent years by America’s publishing industry for women compared to those published for men, and you’ll understand what I am saying.  When I was shopping around the manuscript for my book, The Widowers Journey, more than one publisher told me how “men don’t buy books.” One even said they wouldn’t publish a book for widowers, but they were releasing another book for widows soon.  I replied, “Men sure can’t buy what’s not on the shelf.”

    Introducing: “Widowers Support Network – Members Only” on Facebook

    To address this need, the Widowers Support Network launched “Widowers Support Network – Members Only” (WSN-MO) on Facebook.  WSN-MO is a private, secure, and confidential Facebook page exclusively available to men.  Those who are admitted must be either a widower, a man who is currently serving as a caregiver for a seriously ill spouse or life-partner or simply a good-hearted man who wants to help WSN-MO’s members during their grief journey.  All services are free, and the membership roster and mailing list will never be sold or published.

    Today, men from twenty-two countries from as far away as Australia to Turkey, South Africa to England and across North America enjoy the fellowship afforded them by the WSN-MOs band of brothers.  This dynamic grief recovery tool (men only sandbox) has long been needed by grieving men everywhere as expressed by its members.

    At WSN-MO, any topic is approachable by members.  From sports to gardening, grief to personal finance, health to one’s religious beliefs, relationships to sex. Members are free to ask questions of one another without being shunned or embarrassed for doing so. Members also enjoy exclusive content written or presented by experts in the fields of grief, finance, relationships, psychology, religion, and more.Know a man in need of a sandbox where he can freely express his concerns and receive support from kindred spirits from around the globe, suggest they join us on Facebook at: “Widowers Support Network – Members Only.”

  • The Widower’s Journey

    Immediately following the passing of Michelle Rene Knoll in March 2008, her husband Herb Knoll looked for help in dealing with his grief. To his surprise, little was available, even from his church, from the self-help book shelves of the local Barnes and Noble store or online. It was then Knoll decided to begin writing a book to comfort and assist Widowers with their grief. The book’s title…The Widower’s Journey.

  • E62: Giving Men Permission to Grieve with Herb Knoll – Bereavement Cruise 2019

    Herb Knoll walked away from his life after his wife died of pancreatic cancer. In finding little to no support for widowers in books and grief groups, he forged his own path, spending nine years interviewing widowers and experts. The result of his research is his book, The Widower’s Journey. This week, we’re talking about anticipatory grief and how a number of caregivers fall ill during the caregiving process, what it’s like to have losses occur on holidays and birthdays, and what men need in order to grieve. Also this week, I’m talking about serving others in the midst of heartache.

    Experience a week’s worth of grief healing in the Western Caribbean on the Bereavement Cruise. Fill out this form for more information:
    http://www.comingbackcruise.com

    Herb Knoll’s work and The Widower’s Journey book:
    http://atomic-temporary-173386071.wpcomstaging.com/

    LIVE holiday grief support + so much more when you support Coming Back on Patreon:
    https://www.patreon.com/shelbyforsythia

    Subscribe to Coming Back:

    Continue the conversation on grief and loss in my private Facebook group, The Grief Growers’ Garden: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thegr…
    To ask a question or leave a comment for a future show, leave a voicemail at 312.725.3043 or email shelby@shelbyforsythia.com.

    Because even through grief, we are growing. http://www.shelbyforsythia.com/

  • Grief Recovery Programs Need to Include Action Plans

     Herb Knoll

    Author of the New Book, The Widower’s Journey

    http://www.WidowersSupportNetwork.com

    It’s no wonder so many people fail to complete grief counseling sessions that take place over a period of several weeks, with many attendees opting to bail out of such programs after just a week or two.  Why? I believe one of the reasons is because too many of the programs fail to provide a real road map to the healing grievers seek.  Those who grieve aren’t interested in hearing a lot of theory or advice that is short on substance. They need actionable options.  Proven steps and best practices they can employ as they begin their journey toward some semblance of a recovery.     

    This tendency to withdraw from what are well-intentioned resources should be of no surprise to anyone, especially when speaking about widowed men.  Yes, my view applies to women and men alike, but as an advocate for widowers, I have come to recognize how men who are suffering from the most significant loss of their lives want to act to make their pain go away by taking concrete steps others have previously tested.  Those who fail to complete grief recovery programming are generally not interested in listening to subjective material offered by family members, friends, or a subject matter experts that are weak on specifics. 

    I like to tell the story about my brother Don and his wife Kathy when they were traveling by airplane.  As they sat in their seats, Kathy leaned over and informed Don how the little boy seated behind her was kicking the back of her airline seat.  Being a man of action, Don looked over the top of his seat to the youngster seated behind Kathy and with a raised voice, told the young man to “Knock It Off.”  Kathy then leaned over and asked Don, “What did you do that for?” Kathy went on to say how she didn’t want Don to do anything; she just wanted him to know what she was experiencing.  But like most men, Don is a fixer.  If you give him a problem, his mental Rolodex of problem-solving solutions will begin rotating until the appropriate fix surfaces. It’s what men (and many women) do!   

    Perhaps that’s why I like plans.  Documents that will help me navigate my way until I reach my desired destination or outcome. Plans should contain both strategic and tactical steps one can initiate along life’s journey that will lessen the likelihood of their veering off course or wasting precious resources. I believe people prefer specific, well researched, and proven steps that will advance their agenda. When such insights are available, it can allow the reader’s recovery instincts to be stimulated, causing them to tweak the best practices of others until they conform to the reader’s comfort zone. To this end, I offer the following.

    Grief Recovery Rule #1 – Turn to Your Higher Power.

    For those who believe in a higher power, turn to Him.  Place your grief and your future into His trusted arms.  There is no better place to be.

    Grief Recovery Rule #2 – Grieve for as long as you wish.  

    Grief doesn’t end. It evolves. There are no sequences or stages of grief you can anticipate occurring. So don’t let anyone tell you, “It’s time to get back in the game,” or “Get over it.”  Do so when you are ready, not before.  If their nagging continues, it may be time for some new friends.

    Grief Recovery Rule #3 – Forgive yourself for any lingering regrets you may harbor.

    If you were a caregiver, the spouse, or the life partner of the deceased, you might have some lingering thoughts of regret.  “I should have visited more often.” “Did I find him (or her) the best care possible?” “I should have told him or her I loved them more often.” Regrets surface because deep down inside, you honestly loved that person, and you weren’t sure if they truly knew it. I have some news for you, they did. There is no need to second guess your previous actions.  You undoubtedly did the best you could under the circumstances. And you can be sure they appreciated your loving care. So when you lay your head on your pillow tonight, go ahead and tell them again, “I love you!” They’re listening. 

    Grief Recovery Rule #4 – Watch your health. 

    No matter how well anchored of a survivor or caregiver, you may believe yourself to b; you are vulnerable. Now it’s time to take care of you! All caregivers and the widowed should be seen by their primary physician.  As part of your exam, ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional. You know, someone with whom you can talk. You’ve been through a lot, and you may have suffered physically, and don’t even realized it. Besides, you have others who are depending on you to recover from your grief. This caution is especially true for widowers since most men fail to take proper care of themselves, especially when they are called upon to serve as a caregiver.  Want a sampling of proof? Widowed men have a suicide rate that is 3-4x higher than married men. 

    For those who have lost a spouse, be advised that your loss is the #1 stressor on the stress index scale.  Regardless of how tough you think you are, the human body can only handle so much stress and just for a limited period before it can affect your health.  

    As I said, those who grieve are vulnerable. Here’s more proof. According to the US Census Bureau, 700,000 people are widowed each year in the United States and will live on average another 14 years.  Research has shown that if you are caring for a spouse and are between the ages of 66 and 96, you are at a 66% higher risk of dying than one who is not a caregiver.  Sixty-five percent of those who are widowed (men or women) will experience a severe illness within twelve months.  

    Grief Recovery Rule #5 – Don’t make any hasty decisions. 

    Countless widowed individuals have felt a need to make changes soon after experiencing a loss.  Time and time again, they have proven why they should not have done so.  Whether you are considering moving closer to your son or daughter or downsizing your residence or even proposing marriage to a new love interest, take your time in doing so. Ask for advice from those you admire and trust.  When appropriate, talk with a licensed professional with the proper expertise and credentials, even if a fee is required to do so.  (Pssst – Be sure to check their references.) You’ll be glad you did. 

    Grief Recovery Rule #6 – Stay close to those you love. 

    Seventy-five percent of a survivor’s support base will vanish – or at the very least, be less available to the survivor following the loss of a spouse. Those who are suddenly unavailable may well include family members and friends.  The risk is that people who feel continually lonely have a 14% higher risk of premature death vs. those who don’t.  

    Grief Recovery Rule #7 – Allow those who care about you to assist you in dealing with your grief.

    You are not the only one who is grieving.  When friends and family tell you they want to help, make it easy for them to do so.  Have them cut your lawn, handle your grocery shopping, or clean your pool for the few months. (Just kidding.) But by allowing them to serve in some way, they feel like they have contributed to the healing of all who mourn, including themselves.

    Grief Recovery Rule #8 – Communicate your needs or challenges.

    Ask for help if you need it.  Don’t make people guess. Failing to do so may cause your critical needs to be unaddressed while only trivial tasks are handled. When appropriate, communicate your needs with a subject matter expert. From financial matters to your spirituality, legal issues to mental health examinations, lean on those service providers for guidance.  Should you wish, feel free to contact The Widower’s Support Network (WSN), for advice and mentoring, a free service WSN offers to all widowers and the families that love them. 

    Grief Recovery Rule #9 – Grief groups are a tremendous resource for people in need of support. 

    Grief groups (aka Support groups) can be very beneficial to those who grieve, so don’t shy away from using their services. (This goes for men too, especially those men who foolishly think they can go it alone.) Among the leaders in support services for those who grieve are Hospices, churches, civic groups, and more.  

    The sponsoring agency may have designed their program offerings themselves or may have licensed programmings, such as Walking Through Grief, (available at Walkingthroughgrief.com), GriefShare (GriefShare.org), and Soaring Spirits International (Soaringspirits.org). The cost to attend such support groups are modest, with many are available free of charge. WSN’s first choice is Walking Through Grief programming, available in many communities across America.  You also have the option to stream and view individual programs for as little as $8. See Walkingthroughgrief.com.      

    Many support groups address the needs of individuals, caregivers, or survivors dealing with specific diseases or ailments. For example, PanCan has support groups across America for Pancreatic Cancer sufferers.  Compassionate Friends is a terrific organization that enables families to grieve the loss of a child. By using your computer’s search engine, you can easily find support groups for virtually every kind of ailment or illness, including cancer, Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Chron’s Disease, and countless others.

    For those who don’t wish to attend meetings outside their home, you will find books, DVDs, and more available at the OpentoHope.com, GriefToolbox.com, and GriefDiaries.com, all excellent resources for healing videos, books and more.

    Some who grieve may enjoy getting away from their current environment and enjoy a transformational journey at sea, featuring the nurturing and coaching made available from a world-class team of grief experts. Such experiences are available from Grieving Seminars at Sea on The Bereavement Cruise. The beauty of such an outing is that it allows you to find yourself in a neutral arena, absent the trappings and triggers of everyday life and the memories you may find troubling.  To learn more, contact our office at herb@WidowersSupportNetwork.com    

    Grief Recovery Rule #10 – Get on your feet and out of the house.

    Widowed people need to reestablish their own relevance.  It is essential to have a purpose when you rise out of bed each day.  You can accomplish this in many ways. Volunteering has been found by many to be the best grief recovery tool.  Reach out to a non-profit who supports a good cause, your church, or perform a kind gesture for someone who can’t pay you back.  Perhaps this is why I established the Widowers Support Network, as it provides me with such gratification. Besides, it gives me purpose.  

    Grief Recovery Rule #11 – Commemorate the life of your deceased loved one.

    Perform charitable works in their name. Turn their articles of clothing into “Love Pillows” and give them to those they loved. Celebrate their birthday by joining forces with friends and family in aiding their favorite support group.  

    Grief Recovery Rule #12 – Never lose HOPE.  (Hope Trilogy)  

    As Alexander Pope wrote, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL. Feed your subconscious mind with healing thoughts offering reasons to have hope. View, read, and listen to the lessons learned and the opinions of those who have been where you are today. To begin, all who grieve (men and women) should register at WidowersSupportNetwork.com. Once registered, request your free copy of WSN’s powerful HOPE TRILOGY, the story of three remarkable men, and their mastery over adversity. Write: info@WidowersSupportNetwork.com

    Grief Recovery Rule #13 – Take Care of Business

    As my deceased brother, Dan taught me when I was just a teenager, “Take Care of Business First.” Failing to do so can cause significant hardship if not expense during the remainder of your grief journey.  While matters such as career preservation, legal affairs, and financial wellness may not be the “first” thing you address during your journey, putting off such essential matters can cause catastrophic outcomes later.  Again, seek professional assistance when needed.  

    Grief Recovery Rule #14 –  Consider acquiring grief relief from a Therapy or Service Dog.

    “Therapy dogs bring comfort to those in need of companionship while Service dogs have been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, according to the Americans with Disabilities Act.”  Across America, there are many animal shelters, SPCAs, and civic, service, and charitable organizations that have programs that can assist you in learning more. A supportive pooch is worth considering.  Personally, I would run out and get a rescue dog from the local SPCA, even if it isn’t a “service” dog.    

    Grief Recovery Rule #15 –  Celebrate the life of the one you have lost by living yours; they would certainly want you to do so.

    No explanation needed.

    __________________________________________________________

    Herb Knoll is a retired banking executive, an advocate for Widowers, professional speaker, and author of the breakout book, The Widower’s Journey.  Available at Amazon.com in paperback and all digital formats. Herb is the founder of the Widower’s Support Network (WidowersSupportNetwork.com) featuring the Widowers Support Network – Members Only, a private Facebook group page for men only, and a second Facebook page which is open to the general public at Widowers Support Network.  Herb also produces the Widower’s Journey Podcast which is available on all Podcast outlets. Contact Herb at  herb@WidowersSupportNetwork.com.     

  • Herb Knoll: Widower’s Network

    Herb Knoll was known as a man who could get the job done. But when the former bank president and author lost his wife to cancer he found few resources. The more he learned about the plight of widowers the more he became motivated to write a support book. He is the author of The Widower’s Journey and leads the Widower’s Support

  • How much does grief in the workplace cost Corporate America?

    Lynda Cheldelin Fell talks with retired executive Herb Knoll, founder of Widowers Support Network, about the impact of grief in the workplace and how much it costs corporate America.

  • Herb Knoll: The Widower’s Journey

    Herb Knoll talks about life after the death of his spouse at the annual conference of The Compassionate Friends.