Is It Too Soon to Love Again? One Widower’s Raw Truth About Grief, Guilt, and Moving On

2025-08-05

If you’ve ever questioned loving again after loss—or felt judged for moving on—episode 358 is for you. Author Tony Stewart shares how he navigated grief after his wife Lynn’s death and the guilt that followed when he began a new relationship, even with her blessing. Through honest reflection, Tony shows how love and loss can coexist—and how healing doesn’t mean forgetting.In This Episode, You Will Learn:(0:57) A shocking diagnosis that changed everything(2:30) Living with terminal illness—and with intention...

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

(0:57) A shocking diagnosis that changed everything

(2:30) Living with terminal illness—and with intention

(4:50) Hospice and the beauty in goodbye

(6:30) Grief begins—and it’s not what he expected

(8:40) Finding love again—and the guilt that came with it

(10:40) Grief and love can coexist

(12:50) The power of talking about the person you lost

(20:30) Music, memory, and sudden waves of grief

(27:30) Turning journaling into a lifeline (and a book)

In today's episode, I'm joined by Tony Stewart—author, retired educator, and heartfelt storyteller—who shares his powerful journey through love, loss, and renewal. After his wife Lynn was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Tony began chronicling their experience on CaringBridge, a practice that became the foundation for his memoir Carrying the Tiger: Living with Cancer, Dying with Grace, Finding Joy While Grieving. Through his writing and lived experience, Tony offers a moving reflection on caregiving, grief, and the unexpected path to love again, reminding us that even in sorrow, there can be beauty.

Throughout this episode, Tony brings candid insight and emotional depth as he reflects on Lynn’s diagnosis, the tender challenges of caregiving, and the complexities of mourning while forming a new relationship. He shares how journaling helped him navigate his grief and how community support shaped his healing. With honesty and grace, Tony explores guilt, memory, and resilience, offering comfort and perspective to anyone facing loss.

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