E7: Events for the Widowed — A Discussion on Loss, Grief, and Healing
With grief being such an individual experience, it takes a skilled and understanding person to meet all people where they’re at. This person is Jenny Sellers, the Global Operations Manager of Soaring Spirits International; a non-profit that helps widowed people through their grieving process. Having attended her first Camp just 10 weeks after losing her fiancee Jenny developed a true passion for supporting new widows and widowers. Now she provides operational support for all Soaring Spirits programs, managing various offsite events, and providing additional logistical help to the Executive Team.
[00:01 - 06:00] Opening Segment
I welcome and introduce Jenny Sellers
Global operations leader for Soaring Spirits Int
Helping people through the stages of grief
Jenny talks about Soaring Spirits
Community for those who are widowed
Helping people through grief
Jenny shares her story of becoming part of the Soaring team
Losing her fiance at the age of 31
Struggling to feel understood
Reaching out to Soaring Spirits
Finding a community
Started volunteering for the organization
Became the global operations managers
[06:01 - 12:33] Recurrence and the Need for Different Options
Jenny talks about the recurrence of the Camp
Like a family reunion
The need for different types of support
40% returning campers
The differences offered to people in different stages
The ability to change your schedule as per your needs
Both men and women at each event
All within peer support
The need for Variance
Transitioning to the virtual experience
Two virtual additions included - 7-day turn around
[12:34 - 26:22] Filling the Needs of Your Attendees While Going Virtual
Jenny’s guidance to those needing to go virtual
Keep your attendees needs front and center
Get comfortable and dirty with the tech
Ask for help
Logistics of the event
Open virtual rooms
Financing
Sponsorship
Giving back to the sponsors in a virtual setting
Examples
Recognition
The importance of expertise
Not being talked ‘At’
Shared experience
I talk about my experience helping someone through grief through a program
How my story connects to Jenny
[26:23 - 33:51] Helping People Move Forward not On
The demographics of the events
Skewed exactly in line with the census data
Family groups
Resources
Links below
How Jenny has progressed through her grief
Progress but no finish line
Getting changed and shaped by the experience
In a good place through the support from Soaring Spirits
Permission to move on and look forward
Not ‘move on’ but ‘move forward’
Being easy on yourself
The power of words
[33:52 - 41:25] Closing Segment
Bringing people forward with you
It takes a special person to be trusted
‘Re-partnering’
The importance of space
Jenny’s experience
How to reach out to Jenny and the organization
Links below
Final words
Tweetable Quotes:
“I decided if I could go and find one single person, and one phone number that I could use to support me through the upcoming months and years, it would have been a success.” - Jenny Sellers
“Grief is a very individual experience, and we are all individual human beings… something that I might find beneficial early on might not be what somebody else would even go near.” - Jenny Sellers
“I’m honored and proud to say that through the support of the programs we offer at Soaring Spirits… I’m truly in a good place. I’m happy again, and I’m looking towards the future.” - Jenny Sellers
Resources Mentioned:
You can reach Jenny on LinkedIn. Visit https://soaringspirits.org/ to learn even more.
