I was approached by a Widowhood group online to share my experiences dating a widower, and eventually marrying him. A member of this group was struggling with whether to stay or leave the relationship, and it was eye-opening to hear the members' struggles. I came up with these tips to help them understand the complexities a bit better. Experience is the best teacher, and after almost nine years, I've learned some valuable lessons about dating and marrying a widower.

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.

Guiding loved ones who may be stuck in their grief. Grief can be a complicated and overwhelming emotion. It is important to remember that...