by Richard W. Brown February 19, 2024 0 comments

Health, Community, Novelty, Purpose

Jan and Richard Walking

Walking Clears My Head. Will it Give Me a Longer, Healthy Life?

After my wife passed away, my life took a new direction, one focused on health, novelty, community, and purpose. I found solace in walking, reading, working with Bridges and others in my community, and searching for meaning and purpose. Despite my efforts to explain why these activities have become essential to me, some people believe that I am being obsessive-compulsive. However, these are the ways to choose life over grieving. Every step I take, every page I turn, and every hour I contribute to Bridges contributes to my progress toward building a beloved community.

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by Richard W. Brown February 18, 2024 0 comments

My Life Feels Out of Sync

A widow who has lost a loved one gazes at a landscape without a partner.

Being Out of Sync Highlights the Importance of Life’s Markers

On Walkdate 1019 (19 February 2024), I woke up feeling out of sync and disconnected from the world around me. As I opened my eyes, I realized that I was in an empty apartment, a place that had become my home since my wife died. Despite being used to this routine, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The inside temperature was at 64 degrees Fahrenheit and falling, reminding me of how my life had become unsynchronized and how I needed to find a way to get back on track.

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by Richard W. Brown February 15, 2024 4 comments

Snow Angel Blessing

Love Warmed Our Heart on a Cold Lincoln’s Birthday in 1975

During the winter of 1975, just six months before our wedding, I went for a walk with Jan, my beloved partner, in the tranquil surroundings of Ft. Greene Park, across the street from her apartment. The air was frigid, and the ground was covered with a thick blanket of snow. The sudden winter storm had brought the heaviest snowfall of the year, with a whopping 7.8 inches of snow. Jan, a drug counselor at Brooklyn Automotive, had taken the day off for the holiday. Walking on the un-shoveled snow, it felt like we had stepped into a scene from the timeless classic novel and popular movie, “Dr. Zhivago.” The only sound we could hear was the crisp crunch of our boots on the icy terrain, which added to the serene and peaceful atmosphere.

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by Richard W. Brown February 6, 2024 2 comments

Reading for a Better Life

Seventy-Eights Books in 2023 Challenged Me to Live Fully

Ever since the passing of my beloved wife, I have found solace in the pages of good books. As a child and young adult, I was an avid reader, but as I grew older, I found myself reading mainly newspapers, magazines, work-related materials, or other non-book formats. However, since my wife’s passing, I have developed a newfound appreciation for fiction and have been lost in the world of novels. Some of my friends have questioned why I read books that deal with topics like death or loneliness. But, for me, the answer is simple: I read to explore life’s complexities, which include the experience of loss, grief, and the struggle to survive against all odds. Through the pages of t hese books, I find comfort, understanding, and a deeper connection to the world around me.

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