What do you think?
Rate this book
Moving Forward: The Widow's Journey
This best selling book made the shortlist for the 2022 Selfies Autobiography/Memoir Award, The National Indie Excellence Award finalist, and was a finalist for the Foreword Indies Book Award for 2022.
Through her own personal experience of losing her husband, Arlene Sacks offers insights and guidance on how to navigate the various stages of grief, including shock, denial, guilt, and acceptance. She also shares practical advice on how to deal with life after loss, such as managing finances, making decisions on your own, and handling the loneliness.
Thirteen other widows featured in the book represent a diverse range of experiences, backgrounds, and cultures. Their stories offer a unique perspective on grief and loss, and how different people cope in their own way.
Moving Forward is not only a source of comfort and solace for those dealing with grief, but also a practical guide for those wanting to support a loved one through their journey. This book is a must-read for anyone who has lost a partner or knows someone who has experienced this devastating loss.
"Over the years, I came to recognize that someday I might lose my husband, and that it would be a catastrophic loss. What I never expected was that along with the horrific pain, I would also lose a huge piece of my identity and my life as I knew it."
Thus began Arlene Sacks’ journey of loss, grief and healing, after the illness and death of Howard, her beloved spouse of forty-seven years. As Sacks gathered her thoughts and memories in preparation for writing “Moving Forward,” she came to see that, although widows might share some common ground, no one story of widowhood could capture the whole of its challenges or provide the widest range of wisdom gained from that experience.
There is no “best” way to move forward after losing a life partner, but this book is filled with the stories of Sacks’ journey interwoven with the experiences and influences of thirteen other strong, sensitive and generous widows. Together they provide a roadmap over the perilous ground of loss and the life that follows.
Through her own personal experience of losing her husband, Arlene Sacks offers insights and guidance on how to navigate the various stages of grief, including shock, denial, guilt, and acceptance. She also shares practical advice on how to deal with life after loss, such as managing finances, making decisions on your own, and handling the loneliness.
Thirteen other widows featured in the book represent a diverse range of experiences, backgrounds, and cultures. Their stories offer a unique perspective on grief and loss, and how different people cope in their own way.
Moving Forward is not only a source of comfort and solace for those dealing with grief, but also a practical guide for those wanting to support a loved one through their journey. This book is a must-read for anyone who has lost a partner or knows someone who has experienced this devastating loss.
"Over the years, I came to recognize that someday I might lose my husband, and that it would be a catastrophic loss. What I never expected was that along with the horrific pain, I would also lose a huge piece of my identity and my life as I knew it."
Thus began Arlene Sacks’ journey of loss, grief and healing, after the illness and death of Howard, her beloved spouse of forty-seven years. As Sacks gathered her thoughts and memories in preparation for writing “Moving Forward,” she came to see that, although widows might share some common ground, no one story of widowhood could capture the whole of its challenges or provide the widest range of wisdom gained from that experience.
There is no “best” way to move forward after losing a life partner, but this book is filled with the stories of Sacks’ journey interwoven with the experiences and influences of thirteen other strong, sensitive and generous widows. Together they provide a roadmap over the perilous ground of loss and the life that follows.
212 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2022
51 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Arlene Sacks
6 books4 followersDr. Sacks studied education and psychology during her undergraduate and master's degree studies. In her doctoral studies she focused on education and behavioral psychology, as a student of B.F. Skinner's daughter.
She has served as Director of Graduate Programs at St. Thomas University and Barry University both in Miami, FL. Additionally, she has been the Dean of Doctoral Programs, and served as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Union Institute and University, based in Cincinnati, OH.
Arlene has greatly enjoyed being a wife, mother, and grandmother and has been called a great storyteller.
She has served as Director of Graduate Programs at St. Thomas University and Barry University both in Miami, FL. Additionally, she has been the Dean of Doctoral Programs, and served as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs at Union Institute and University, based in Cincinnati, OH.
Arlene has greatly enjoyed being a wife, mother, and grandmother and has been called a great storyteller.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 12, 2024
This is a superb book of guidance for those who have lost a partner, and also offers a wake-up call to those who are still in a close relationship, where the specter of loss is not yet apparent. Three qualities stand out for me in reading the text. The first is intimacy. The author candidly shares poignant details about her relationship with her husband, her family, and her process for regaining strength after his death, such that we feel we are sitting down with her to a cup of coffee, with time for a refill, just as she has done with thirteen other widows. It is a privilege to hear her story, and theirs. I am frankly amazed at the depth of her revelations, and the search for meaning so deliberate in her reflections.
The second quality is the diversity of experiences shared. She has sought women who come from different faiths and geographies, who may have endured their husband’s long illness, or who may have been suddenly bereft due to a horrific accident. They are young and old; they come to the table after a relatively short while as widows, or after many years. They make different choices, but they convey them with courage, out of a desire to assist readers who might benefit from what they have lived through, and what they are continuing to live into, as they contemplate where they are in a continuum from past to present to future.
The third and perhaps most unexpected quality is that of gratitude. Perhaps inspired by Arlene’s own example, the women in these often tragic circumstances find ways to be thankful – for the love they have shared, for the many moments of splendiferous memory they hold close, for the timely support of particular friends and family, for the abundance of new life they find at the shores of their grief. Their testimonies offer inspiration, not just for how to cope with loss, but how to embrace the gifts we are sometimes blind to.
Among the explorations in these pages is a concerted focus on the question of whether to relocate after the death of a spouse. Arlene tackles this topic head-on, relaying the feedback of many well-wishers who were certain she should leave her marital home – a situation repeated in the stories of those she interviewed. Nowhere else have I seen such a frank discussion of what relocation might mean, and of the common error of friends who think they know what is best for us. Ultimately, we must make our own decisions, and the author honors the individuality not only of those she talked with, but of readers as well. She encourages, she nudges, she believes in the possibility of finding strength when grief seems to exhaust us of all hope.
This is a book that will bolster courage, that will help partners prepare for a future without their loved one, that will encourage conversations that readers might otherwise be reluctant to pursue. I give it my heartiest recommendation, as someone who has counseled many dozens of widowed women, and a number of widowers as well. MOVING FORWARD is a way to stock of oneself, one’s perhaps yet veiled opportunities as well as one’s clamoring losses. It is a way to embrace life, to be reminded of the paired mutuality of love and loss, and to affirm our desire for purpose and meaning. -- Carol Barrett, Ph.D.
The second quality is the diversity of experiences shared. She has sought women who come from different faiths and geographies, who may have endured their husband’s long illness, or who may have been suddenly bereft due to a horrific accident. They are young and old; they come to the table after a relatively short while as widows, or after many years. They make different choices, but they convey them with courage, out of a desire to assist readers who might benefit from what they have lived through, and what they are continuing to live into, as they contemplate where they are in a continuum from past to present to future.
The third and perhaps most unexpected quality is that of gratitude. Perhaps inspired by Arlene’s own example, the women in these often tragic circumstances find ways to be thankful – for the love they have shared, for the many moments of splendiferous memory they hold close, for the timely support of particular friends and family, for the abundance of new life they find at the shores of their grief. Their testimonies offer inspiration, not just for how to cope with loss, but how to embrace the gifts we are sometimes blind to.
Among the explorations in these pages is a concerted focus on the question of whether to relocate after the death of a spouse. Arlene tackles this topic head-on, relaying the feedback of many well-wishers who were certain she should leave her marital home – a situation repeated in the stories of those she interviewed. Nowhere else have I seen such a frank discussion of what relocation might mean, and of the common error of friends who think they know what is best for us. Ultimately, we must make our own decisions, and the author honors the individuality not only of those she talked with, but of readers as well. She encourages, she nudges, she believes in the possibility of finding strength when grief seems to exhaust us of all hope.
This is a book that will bolster courage, that will help partners prepare for a future without their loved one, that will encourage conversations that readers might otherwise be reluctant to pursue. I give it my heartiest recommendation, as someone who has counseled many dozens of widowed women, and a number of widowers as well. MOVING FORWARD is a way to stock of oneself, one’s perhaps yet veiled opportunities as well as one’s clamoring losses. It is a way to embrace life, to be reminded of the paired mutuality of love and loss, and to affirm our desire for purpose and meaning. -- Carol Barrett, Ph.D.
January 26, 2023
beautifully written.
Arlene's husband could not have taken care of himself better by taking care of his wife. He certainly optimized the days he had left. What a blessing.
Arlene was so blessed to have so many friends and family who took such great care of her when she needed them. This book is perfect for those who want to support someone the best way possible.
If you know someone who has a death of a loved one that's imminent or you are that someone, read this book!
I became a widow very unexpectedly and boy, I wish everyone around me had read this.
The unexpected burden of being a widow is finding that extra ability to forgive during the most emotionally difficult time in your life.
Arlene's husband could not have taken care of himself better by taking care of his wife. He certainly optimized the days he had left. What a blessing.
Arlene was so blessed to have so many friends and family who took such great care of her when she needed them. This book is perfect for those who want to support someone the best way possible.
If you know someone who has a death of a loved one that's imminent or you are that someone, read this book!
I became a widow very unexpectedly and boy, I wish everyone around me had read this.
The unexpected burden of being a widow is finding that extra ability to forgive during the most emotionally difficult time in your life.
May 16, 2023
I am not a widow. I cannot claim to fully understand the pain or troubles this novel faces head on. But what I can say is that this novel offered a new perspective of marriage, hardship, and what it is to truly love someone.
The book’s structure is set up to where I didn’t get bored and could understand the timeline and appreciate the flashbacks. There are three segments which make the book diverse with stories in one for example, and interviews with other widows in the other.
All in all, this book was a breath of fresh air. As someone who tends to read other types of books it was an enjoyable change of pace and an easy yet excellent read.
The book’s structure is set up to where I didn’t get bored and could understand the timeline and appreciate the flashbacks. There are three segments which make the book diverse with stories in one for example, and interviews with other widows in the other.
All in all, this book was a breath of fresh air. As someone who tends to read other types of books it was an enjoyable change of pace and an easy yet excellent read.
December 13, 2022
Arlene Sacks has beautifully written about her journey along with vignettes on other women. Each person must travel this road on a journey of their own, but the insight from Arlene and the other women gives a wonderful perspective on how they are moving forward. Each person gives insight into their personal journey. I have recommended this book to a few of my widow clients that are starting a support group. As a counselor, I highly recommend this book as a tool to help others walk this trail with support, knowing they are not alone.
February 11, 2022
Moving Forward by Arlene Sacks is a useful guide for anyone who has suffered a loss or knows someone going through a loss.
Sacks is a great storyteller and takes us along her journey of moving forward after the death of her beloved Howard who we get to know through her beautiful words. Her interweaving of stories from a diverse group of widows is a lesson in how everyone’s experiences have similarities and differences. I highly recommend this book.
Sacks is a great storyteller and takes us along her journey of moving forward after the death of her beloved Howard who we get to know through her beautiful words. Her interweaving of stories from a diverse group of widows is a lesson in how everyone’s experiences have similarities and differences. I highly recommend this book.
April 20, 2022
This book is more for widows who have been dealing with it for awhile rather than the newly widowed. It was good but not what I need right now.
November 8, 2022
Arlene Sacks has written a guide for all women facing widowhood. While I am not there yet, my time is coming soon. I found the various tales and circumstances and solutions quite hopeful. Thank you!
June 21, 2024
This book had some thoughts to consider as I move through grieving the passing of my soulmate and I found the stories of other widows very repetitive.
March 4, 2024
Dr. Sacks’ book is packed with stories and full of hope for widows. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews