How Mindfulness Can Help Widows Heal and Thrive: Being Present for Life with Harriet Stein
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Release Date: 04/14/2026
Widowhood, Co-Parenting, and the Power of Parental Alignment with Michael Flores
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Donna Jean Kendrick talks with Michael Flores, a counselor, family therapist, and founder of Brighter Possibilities Family Counseling, about helping families navigate widowhood, divorce, co-parenting, and court-ordered counseling. Michael shares how his own childhood experiences shaped his mission and why he centers therapy on what children need, not just what adults want.This conversation is especially useful for single parents, widows, widowers, step-parents, grandparents, and therapists supporting blended or high-conflict families. The big idea is simple: when parents align on the goal,...
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Planning for Long-Term Care, Love, and Legacy with Raymond Lavine
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow, Wisdom and Wealth™, Donna welcomes Raymond Lavine, host of Planning with Purpose and two-time EXPY award winner, for a candid conversation about long-term care planning. Rather than getting lost in policy jargon, the discussion focuses on why these conversations matter now—especially for widows, widowers, and families navigating major life transitions. Together, they explore caregiving, vulnerability, legacy, and the importance of having a plan that protects both your loved ones and your future. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why long-term care planning is...
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How Forcing Joy Transformed a Widow’s Grief into a Community of Healing with Dana Frost
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow, Wisdom and Wealth™, host Don sits down with Dana Frost, founder of the Forced Joy Project, to talk about grief, resilience, and the power of community after loss. Dana shares the story behind her husband Brad’s terminal cancer diagnosis, the “forced joy” mindset they created during his final 100 days, and how that practice evolved into a meaningful mission supporting widows, widowers, and others navigating life after loss. Listeners will hear how the Forced Joy Project grew into a community with retreats, the Joy Scout Club, and creative tools for honoring...
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Rebuilding Life After Loss: Wisdom from Lisa Woolery
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this heartfelt episode, Lisa Woolery shares her journey of overcoming widowhood, raising children, and rediscovering purpose through her mission of supporting widows. Her story offers powerful insights on healing, community support, and embracing a new chapter with hope and resilience. Main Topics: Lisa Woolery’s personal widowhood story and early relationship with her husband Eric The importance of honesty, shared responsibility, and mutual support in coping with loss Building community and leaning on neighbors and friends for strength The concept of a widow’s comeback and her...
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Rebuilding Joy Through Travel: Tiffany Rampey’s Journey from Widowhood to Empowered Global Explorer
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Discover how Tiffany Rampey transformed her grief into a movement that empowers widows to travel the world responsibly and joyfully. In this episode, she shares her inspiring story of resilience, the innovative Travel More Method, and practical tips for leveraging points and miles to unlock global adventures. Main Topics: Tiffany’s personal journey from widowhood to reinventing her life through travel The development and principles of the Travel More Method How widows can use points and miles to travel affordably Overcoming mindset blocks like guilt and fear after loss The importance...
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Navigating Real Estate Transitions After Loss or Divorce with Dana Friedman
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of "Widow Wisdom and Wealth," Dana Friedman shares insightful advice on managing real estate decisions during emotional life transitions, particularly after widowhood or divorce. Whether you’re considering selling your family home, downsizing, or exploring 55+ communities, Dana’s expertise offers practical guidance and emotional support. Main Topics Covered: How to use the long-term capital gain exclusion within the first two years of widowhood Strategies for accurately determining home value amidst fluctuating markets Important updates and improvements that can increase...
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What Your Next Best Minute Can Do When Disaster Hits with Erika Andresen
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode of Widow Wisdom and Wealth, we dive deep into resilience, life pivots, and practical strategies for navigating business and personal challenges after loss. Erika Andresen shares her inspiring journey from military service and law to becoming a business continuity expert, emphasizing the importance of planning, action, and living in alignment with your passions. Key Topics The parallels between business continuity planning and handling life's disruptions Erika’s personal story of evolving careers and overcoming hardships How resilience builds through proactive planning and...
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How Mindfulness Can Help Widows Heal and Thrive: Being Present for Life with Harriet Stein
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
Discover how mindfulness can transform your daily life, reduce stress, and help you find joy amidst chaos, especially for widows and widowers navigating grief, careers, and parenting. Harriet Stein shares practical insights, her personal story, and tools to incorporate mindfulness into busy routines. Key topics: The true meaning of mindfulness: paying attention without judgment Practical ways to practice mindfulness in everyday activities like driving, washing hands, and walking How mindfulness can ease stress and grief, especially during challenging times The nine attitudes of...
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From Career Chaos to Purpose—And the Secret to Reimagining Retirement with Dale Power
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this heartfelt episode, Dale Power shares her inspiring journey through life's transitions—from entrepreneurship to profound personal loss—and how courage can be a guiding force during pivotal moments. Discover practical steps to reimagine your purpose and embrace change with confidence. Key Topics: Dale's personal story of resilience and reinvention The Share Your Courage three-step methodology for navigating transitions The importance of starting where you are and leveraging strengths Reimagining career paths through conversations and informational interviews Practicing...
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Supporting Families in Transition: Financial Caregiving and Daily Money Management with Jeremy Zizmor
Widow, Wisdom & Wealth™: Thriving in Career and Parenthood After Loss
In this episode, Donna Kendrick hosts Jeremy Zizmor to discuss how daily money management and financial caregiving can ease the lives of families navigating widowhood, divorce, aging parents, or other transitions. Jeremy shares insights into establishing financial organization, protecting assets, and leveraging professional teams to provide clarity during challenging times. Key Topics: The role of daily money managers in supporting families through life transitions How to organize and streamline financial documents and insurance policies Importance of establishing trusted...
info_outlineDiscover how mindfulness can transform your daily life, reduce stress, and help you find joy amidst chaos, especially for widows and widowers navigating grief, careers, and parenting. Harriet Stein shares practical insights, her personal story, and tools to incorporate mindfulness into busy routines.
Key topics:
- The true meaning of mindfulness: paying attention without judgment
- Practical ways to practice mindfulness in everyday activities like driving, washing hands, and walking
- How mindfulness can ease stress and grief, especially during challenging times
- The nine attitudes of mindfulness according to John Kabat-Zinn
- Harriet’s journey from nursing to coaching, and writing her book, Perfect Attendance
- The importance of being present for life, not work, as highlighted in Harriet’s story about her mother
- Easy resources for beginners: books, YouTube channels, and mindfulness practices
- The value of daily mindfulness practices like pause, gratitude, and sensory awareness
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to mindfulness and its relevance for widows and widowers
00:29 - The definition of mindfulness: paying attention without judgment
00:59 - How to practice mindfulness in daily life: red lights, walking, and chores
02:01 - Harriet’s personal journey from nurse to mindfulness coach
03:20 - Incorporating mindfulness in corporate settings: stress reduction and focus
04:05 - Simple exercises to develop mindfulness: noticing thoughts and sensations
06:20 - Lessons learned from Harriet’s grief process and its duration
07:43 - Strategies for maintaining mindfulness with busy schedules and grief
08:05 - The nine attitudes of mindfulness, with an emphasis on non-striving
11:17 - Harriet’s book: Perfect Attendance, Being Present for Life
13:01 - The story behind the book’s title and the importance of presence over work
14:05 - Clarifying myths about mindfulness and its practical application
17:23 - Practical resources: books, online courses, and community practices
18:49 - Incorporating mindfulness into daily transitions and breaks
20:19 - The significance of sensory-grounding techniques, like hand-washing, for stress relief
21:56 - Recommended mindfulness resources: Jon Kabat-Zinn, YouTube channels, and retreats
23:38 - Harriet’s website: harrietstein.com and how to connect
24:23 - Words of wisdom: you are enough, and authenticity matters
25:35 - Final encouragement to prioritize self-care through mindfulness
Connect with Harriet Stein:
- Website: harrietstein.com
More about Harriet Stein
HARRIET STEIN, RN, MS
Harriet Stein understands the unique challenges that businesses face today. An inspirational teacher and professional speaker, Harriet is passionate about speaking to organizations of all sizes about how a culture of mindfulness can reduce stress, increase performance, lower healthcare costs, and boost employee engagement.
A cookie-cutter app cannot effectively show you how to use mindfulness to combat work overload, answer your specific questions, or address your unique challenges. Harriet’s mindfulness programs teach essential skills through hands-on instruction that provides practical tools for achieving a more fulfilling and productive life.
Harriet is the author of Perfect Attendance: Being Present for Life and creator of Take a Pause, the award-winning international mindfulness training program that won first place in Impact on the Organization and second place in Innovation and Creativity at Sindusfarma’s Boomerang Awards, which recognize the best-in-class training and development programs in the pharmaceutical industry in Brazil.
She has extensive experience teaching mindfulness practices and strategies at Fortune 500
companies to improve corporate culture. During her tenure at Johnson & Johnson, she used her expertise and passion to directly instruct more than 5,000 worldwide employees on the practice of mindfulness through engaging programs and at leadership summits.
Mixing research and science with levity and fun, Harriet’s proven strategies teach tangible ways to live in the present and be accessible, both professionally and personally. Learn how to reduce stress, increase patience, and create space in your life to accomplish what you want to achieve – more creativity, more efficiency, or just a better night’s sleep! Harriet’s first teacher was Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. She completed extensive professional training at the Myrna Brind Center for Mindfulness at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. This advanced training, interwoven with her background as a Registered Nurse and her Master of Science degree in Health Administration, is foundational to the compassion and purpose she brings to her mindfulness programs.
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CONNECT with Donna Jean Kendrick
Facebook: @donnajeankendrick
LinkedIn: linked.com/in/donna-kendrick
Instagram: @donnajeankendrick
Website: https://sephtonfinancial.com/
Phone: (215) 948-3945
Complimentary Consultation/Contact Us: https://sephtonfinancial.com/contact/
Downloadables and Resources: https://sephtonfinancial.com/resources/
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Donna Kendrick is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and owner of Sephton Financial located at 314 Washington Ln, Jenkintown, PA 19046. If you'd like to contact Sephton Financial you can do so online at SephtonFinanical.com or by calling 215 948 3945 Registered Representative offering securities through Cetera Financial Specialists LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity. Sephton Financial, LLC and Cetera are not affiliated. The views depicted in this material are for information purposes only and are not necessarily those of Sephton Financial. They should not be considered specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Neither Sephton Financial nor any of its representatives may give legal or tax advice. The guests on the podcast are not affiliated or registered with Cetera Financial Specialist. Any information provided by the guests are in no way related to Cetera Financial Specialist or its registered representatives.