Valentine’s Day can land very differently in widowhood — whether it once meant everything, or barely registered at all.

In this episode, I’m sitting with the tenderness of love-centered days after loss. We talk about why days like Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, and weddings can quietly magnify grief, how love continues to live in the body even after death, and why there is no “right” way to move through these moments.

I also share my own experience of the first Valentine’s Day after Kevin died — what I needed, what surprised me, and what it taught me about permission, presence, and listening to ourselves in grief.

Inside this episode, we explore:

• Why love-centered days often feel heavier in widowhood
• The difference between being alone and feeling alone
• How grief can feel more intense when the world keeps moving
• Why there is no correct way to do Valentine’s Day after loss
• Gentle, compassionate ways to support yourself through tender days

This episode is an invitation to soften expectations, release performance, and honor whatever it takes for you to get through the day.

Free Workshop: Loneliness, Grief, & Being Held in Community

If this episode resonated and you’re longing for a space where you don’t have to explain your grief, I’d love to invite you to my free workshop on February 25th.

We’ll talk about:

• Why loneliness often feels amplified inside of grief
• The difference between feeling alone and being alone
• Self-compassion as you navigate everything coming up for you
• How being held in the right kind of community can gently shift the grief experience
• An introduction to my 12-week group grief support program for widows, Re-Imagine (beginning mid-March)

🗓 February 25th
🕓 4:00 PM PST
🔗 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83653452564

You can also find the registration link in my Instagram bio, or reach out directly at lauren@imsorrywerefriends.com
and I’ll share it with you personally.

Thank you for being here, and for letting me sit with you in this tender space.
Take gentle care of yourself. 💛