Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck
When you become a widow, the heartache can be overwhelming. You feel lost. You feel broken. You feel alone. And you find yourself trying to pick up the pieces of your life and function. But I believe that every widow has the capacity to endure, that every widow has the power to overcome and the determination to create a new life filled with meaning and purpose. The Widow 180 Podcast is about turning tragedy, loss and fear into strength and creativity and a new passion for life. It's about self-reflection and realizing that we only have this one precious life to live and that a new life and a new you is achievable.Each week I will be interviewing widows, incredible survivors of loss. These women have taken the lessons they've learned and the insights they've gained and used them to grow and transform themselves. Some have started businesses, went back to school, run marathons, lost 100 pounds, and moved across the world! They made a choice not to be held down.How did they do it? How did they get through their grief? What's their secret? What lessons can we learn from them that will transform our own lives? How can we write our own story because our story isn't over yet? How can we begin our Chapter 2? I hope that you are as inspired by these women as I am. And maybe hearing even just one story will be life-changing for you.
Widow 180 The Podcast with Jen Zwinck
223. What "Doing Grief Your Own Way" Looks Like! - Interview With Diane Easley
What if you wanted to make up your own rules for grieving and do what feels right for you? That's EXACTLY what Diane Easley decided to do.
This is an incredibly honest and inspiring conversation with Diane Easley, who graciously shared her journey through widowhood after suddenly losing her husband, Walter, in 2017. I know you will enjoy it and all of the wisdom she shares!
What “Doing Grief Your Own Way” Really Looks Like
Diane’s story starts with the unexpected loss of her husband while he was away on a work trip in Florida—a devastating call that changed everything in an instant. What followed wasn’t a prescribed script of grief, but a deeply mindful, authentic approach rooted in self-awareness and honoring what she needed, not what tradition or others expected.
Diane’s Approach to Grieving:
- Intentionality Over Expectations: Diane realized early on that there isn’t a “right way” to mourn. Wearing black, lighting a candle at the one-year mark, and “moving on” wasn't the real answer!
- Documenting the Realness: She began sharing daily reflections on Instagram—sometimes about a broken watering can that brought her to her knees in grief, other days about the surprising moments of joy she allowed herself to feel.
Setting Boundaries: Diane put a sign on her front door, politely asking visitors not to knock or ring the doorbell, but to quietly come in if the door was open. “It makes people be thoughtful when they show up,” she added—it was what she needed to feel safe and respected during her most vulnerable days.
Be sure to check out the latest workbook in the Widow 180 Workbook series, The Boost Your Confidence Level After Loss Workbook available for immediate download now!
If you are tired of feeling scared and letting fear run your life, this workbook is for you!
Get it at https://widow180.kit.com/products/confidence
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For more blog posts and resources go to www.widow180.com
Questions? Email me at jen@widow180.com