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Widow Dating: When its Time for New Love, We’re Here

older couple on a date in the park

For those who have experienced the loss of a partner, deciding to start dating again can be a very challenging experience. Many widows and widowers find that it’s of great comfort to start dating by meeting other singles who find themselves in a similar situation; singles who can relate to the loss of a partner and can empathise with the difficulties of moving on. If you feel you’re ready to find companionship and connection, register for EliteSingles’ Widow Dating today.

Finding Love After Loss

Moving on from losing a partner can be one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. As psychotherapist Hilda Burke explains everyone’s experience is different and there are no hard rules about when to move on:

When a relationship ends, many of us liken the experience to a bereavement. Indeed, the process of grieving and gradual recovery can follow a similar pattern to that of bereavement. So when a partner dies, the grieving is not only for our beloved but also for the relationship itself. It’s a double loss. Yet, feeling the pain of loss doesn’t have to mean giving up on love. Armed with the right mindset, it is possible to begin to respectfully move on. Widow dating doesn’t mean replacing beloved memories. Instead, it’s about learning to make room in your heart for both your treasured past and your bright future.

Widow Dating – Moving On at Your Own Pace

Each person’s experience of bereavement is different and unique. To try and quantify an ‘average duration’ for grieving and recover is futile. Burke explains this through a personal anecdote, ‘Recently I met the mother of an acquaintance of mine in the park. During our brief chat, she revealed quite a lot about herself – she explained how she had been in a very loving marriage for over 40 years until her husband died suddenly of a heart attack. Within a year, she had become involved in a serious relationship with another man, something that she did not expect.’

Burke asks, ‘Does this mean she loved any less than if she still wore the mantle of grief? For some of us this may be hard to fathom but moving on is a deeply personal experience and what feels right for one, may feel inappropriate for someone else. I think the most important thing about ‘moving on’ is only to do it when it feels right for us. And this may not always match the expectations of our family and friends. It’s something we can only know in our hearts.’ That said, once it does start to feel right, there are a few tips that might make it easier to take the plunge with widower or widow dating.

To explore widow dating with EliteSingles, click the banner below to register for free.

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Had enough of dating sites pretending to be the real thing? It’s time to discover EliteSingles. Our intelligent approach to matchmaking is has helped us establish ourselves as Australia’s leading dating website for Aussie singles serious about finding true love. Our experience and specialist knowledge set us apart from the rest, and our nationwide presence makes us the go-to choice when it comes to straightforward local dating in Australia. Whether you’re eager to meet Sydney singles or you want to dive in to the Melbourne dating scene, we’ve got it covered. Register with us today and find out what using a real dating site is all about!

About the author: Hilda Burke

See more articles written by Hilda Burke