(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Losing a loved one is never easy, and when it’s your spouse, it can be devastating. Sandra Martinez, who experienced widowhood herself, joined FOX21 Morning News on Friday, Feb. 13, to discuss a local group that helps widowed people rediscover hope and start healing through community and connection. Martinez is the organizer of the Pikes Peak Widowed Group and a local Soaring Spirits Peer Facilitator.
Martinez lost her husband suddenly in 2015 after 24 years of marriage. She said a friend told her about Soaring Spirits, which provides online resources and in-person meetings for widowed people. “I attended Camp Widow that year, and that’s a combination of a conference and a retreat that ended with a really joyous dance party, and so I just wanted to spread that to other people and other widowed people in the community,” said Martinez.
She said that while the support of loved ones is great, only those who have also experienced losing a partner can truly understand. “You don’t just lose a person, you lose your financial security, your future plans, but there are people out there that know exactly what you’re going through,” said Martinez.
Meetings happen twice a month and provide both men and women an opportunity to connect and share stories. “Some people come to talk, some people come to listen, and that’s perfectly okay,” said Martinez. “The goal is to leave a little bit less alone and a little bit more hopeful.”…