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Dear Next Chapter, My widowed boyfriend and I are ready to go public, but his family is still deep in grief. How do we break the news? ~ Hidden Chapter
Dear Hidden Chapter,
First, let me say how brave and hopeful it is that you and your boyfriend are ready to share your happiness with the world, even as his family is still navigating the waves of grief. Introducing a new relationship into a family mourning a significant loss is like introducing a new species into a delicate ecosystem. Success depends on patience, gentleness, and attentive observation. Remember, patience is not just a virtue; it's a necessity in this delicat

Deborah Holmén
Jun 263 min read


Dear Next Chapter: I feel like an outsider when I'm with his grieving family. How do I balance my needs with theirs? ~ Feeling Left Out
First, let's take a collective deep breath. If you're reading this, you've already done something incredibly brave: you've stepped into a story that began before you and hope to help write the next chapter. That takes courage, heart, and a willingness to be very uncomfortable for other people's sake. I know you have these things because I've been exactly where you are.
When you're dating or married to a widower, the family's garden is already in full bloom...

Deborah Holmén
Jun 193 min read


Mother Nature's Message: Rediscover Winter's Wisdom
By Deborah Holmen, M.Ed., NBCT, Published in The Good Men Project, and Change Becomes You Photo by Aaron Burden  on Unsplash I, Mother...

Deborah Holmén
Dec 27, 20243 min read


From Sh*t to Blooms: Discover the Power of Turning Life’s Challenges Into Opportunities
So, you’ve been through some shit lately, and you feel like life has decided to be your forever nemesis. What if there was an answer to your

Deborah Holmén
Apr 10, 20244 min read


Exploring the Lessons of Death: How Mother Nature Teaches Us Through the Cycle of Life
If you’ve ever watched Animal Planet, or in my day, it was Mutual of Omaha Animal Kingdom, Mother Nature didn’t sugar-coat what life and death were all about. We witnessed the lioness desperately trying to feed her cubs and rooted in her success. Or, in the next episode, we’d watch the antelope bound desperately to escape the apex predator’s clutches. It brought the reality of life to our television in plain and simple truth: we all have an exit plan; we just don’t know when.

Deborah Holmén
Apr 2, 20246 min read


12 Steps to Finding Acceptance Through Grief: How to Move On and Embrace a Positive Outlook
Guiding loved ones who may be stuck in their grief. By Deborah Holmen, M.Ed, NBCT Photo by Sandy Millar Grief can be a complicated and...

Deborah Holmén
Mar 18, 20237 min read
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