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In this episode RuthAnn talks about how she and Lance were able to find joy in the holidays despite all the challenges they faced with his declining health. She shares some of her favorite holiday memories, and that she finds joy in looking back on those times now.

Listen in to RuthAnn and Jenna's conversation about holiday traditions. RuthAnn talks about learning to adapt to the constant changes and Lance's needs, and being intentional in what they did so that they could have the best celebrations possible. 

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In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the challenges of getting through the holidays while dealing with a disability, chronic illness, or loss of a loved one. It can be difficult celebrating with people who do not understand. RuthAnn shares some of the challenges she and Lance faced, and how she is coping with the holiday season after his death.

Listen in to RuthAnn and Jenna's conversation where they discuss how RuthAnn and Lance navigated the holidays and learned how to celebrate in their own way. RuthAnn opens up about a surprising holiday that she didn't expect to have such an impact on her.

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In this episode RuthAnn opens up about what it feels like to move forward after living such an isolated life and feeling invisible behind Lance's wheelchair. People are often surprised at how intimidating newfound freedom can be. 

RuthAnn and Jenna discuss the challenges in redefining your purpose and integrating your past with your future. Listen in to this conversation where they offer advice on how to maintain your own identity while giving up so much of yourself to care for another person, whether a spouse, child, parent, friend, etc.

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In this episode RuthAnn talks about her experience with Broken Heart Syndrome. She describes what it felt like and how she moved forward through the pain and grief. In the beginning she thought she would never get past it and wasn't sure if she even wanted to live. 

RuthAnn shares how people stopped saying Lance's name and it began to feel like he never existed. Listen in as she and Jenna chat about being true to yourself, choosing your battles, and learning how to deal with people being uncomfortable with death. This conversation shares the hope in healing, moving forward, and being excited about life again. 

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Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they talk about how much the world has changed in recent years. In this episode RuthAnn shares her experience of trying to get back to normal living after decades of caregiving. She and Lance were still listening to music on iPods and she didn’t even know about streaming music. The world seemed alien to her, and she experienced reverse culture shock as she began navigating her new life. 

RuthAnn had been very isolated during the time when the world adopted smartphones as their main form of communication. In the environments she had been in leading up to Lance's death, people had to communicate with each other directly. As she moved forward, it was shocking to be in public places watching people ignoring those that they were sitting with and staring at their phones instead.

Listen in as RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the things RuthAnn has done, such as listening to music and traveling, which have had a big impact on her. She talks about getting back up to speed with the rest of the world but picking and choosing how she wants to use technology as she continues to move forward.

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Grieving the loss of the love of your life is difficult enough, but grieving during the pandemic was almost unbearable. The entire world was isolating and dealing with their own losses and grief.

RuthAnn shares the early days of how she dealt with her grief and the steps she took to move forward. She talks about some of the problems she experienced, including brain fog, feeling like she had suffered a traumatic brain injury, and having to relearn some of the most essential life skills.

Listen in as RuthAnn and Jenna discuss how RuthAnn's experience differed from the normal progression of loss, not only because of her unique circumstances but also because of the pandemic. RuthAnn talks about her decision to move halfway across the country and the things that helped her move forward and begin to heal and live again.

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Join RuthAnn and Jenna for a very personal glimpse into the healing journey of grief. In this emotional episode, RuthAnn shares part of her audio/video journal three years after Lance passed away, and an episode recorded a few months later that highlights some of the struggles of moving forward after long term caregiving has ended. 

Grief is hard to comprehend until you have lost someone close to you. It turns your world upside down and complicates life in a way that is hard to describe. This episode shows some of the scattered pieces of beginning to put a life back together after more than 25 years of caring for, and then losing, the person who mattered most in this world. 

RuthAnn shares that she felt like she was dying and didn't realize until a couple of years after Lance passed away that it was because he was dying and she was living in his world walking the path that he was on. Coming back from an unintentional journey towards death takes time. We should always be kind, but this is especially important during grief or other challenging situations. Why do people feel like they should set expectations on someone else's timeline for grief?

Listen in to hear RuthAnn and Jenna talk about the importance of knowing your limitations and setting boundaries when moving forward. 

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In this episode, RuthAnn talks about finding it difficult to maintain her identity when she was a caregiver, about being defined as just a caregiver, being defined as a widow now, and why those terms are bothersome. 

RuthAnn and Jenna talk about how terms used to describe what people do can define them too narrowly. Experiences shape us but they do not tell the whole story of who we are.

Tune in to hear RuthAnn and Jenna talk about doing the hard work, being intentional, and making the choice every single day to do things to move forward in a healthy way.

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In this candid episode, RuthAnn shares some deeply personal experiences while caring for Lance, a journey that began when they were both in their 20s. Facing challenges that set them apart from their peers, RuthAnn and Lance struggled to find understanding and support from those around them. Many people only wanted to hear positive updates, leaving them feeling isolated and unable to share the true difficulties of their situation.

This episode delves into the common experiences of caregivers who often feel pressured to present a positive front, despite the reality of their struggles. RuthAnn opens up about the emotional toll of trying to meet others’ expectations and her decision to prioritize Lance’s and her needs over others’ opinions.

Tune in to hear RuthAnn's candid advice on how to support those going through tough times, especially when you’re unsure of what to say. RuthAnn and Jenna's insights offer a guide for anyone looking to be there for their loved ones in meaningful ways.

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Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they dive into the world of self-care and why it is essential for your physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. In this episode they explore what self-care truly means and discuss what qualifies as genuine self-care. Listen in as RuthAnn and Jenna share their personal journeys to identifying true self-care practices and offer practical tips on how to incorporate it into even the busiest schedules. Tune in to learn how to nourish yourself holistically and make the most of your self-care moments.