Life is not always perfect.
As such, people can't have what they want.
So no matter how much you want to be together as husband and wife until you grow old, it isn't possible.
Without you expecting it, your loved one may not live long and pass on to the next life before you.
That's life and you just have to accept it.
So what should you do then if you lose the person you so love? It's natural to feel pain and loneliness but not for the rest of your life.
Yes, you can grieve but only for a certain period.
During this time, it's fine to release a variety of emotions from anger, to shock and even guilt.
Although there's no standard time frame as to how long should a widow or widower grieves, you should decide to put a stop to it.
Know that crying does not reflect a person's weakness.
It's better to do this than suffer inside to the detriment of your health.
This part is actually necessary to give way to healing later on.
After that, you can stand up and move on with life again.
You need to gain enough strength to go on with life without your partner.
If strength is lacking within you, it can be sourced from your children as well as good friends who care about you.
With the right support system from these people, you can be sure to recover at just about the right time.
If, however, you feel the need to seek more advice coming from a professional, by all means approach a family therapist or marriage counselor.
Through counseling, anybody who has lost a loved one can be guided as to the proper steps to take to heal emotionally.
This method is ideal for people who don't feel comfortable talking about what they're going through with their children and friends.
They would rather discuss their emotions with a third party who don't know them.
So if any of your parents are in this situation, you as their child should also the necessary steps to ensure that your mother or father is moving towards the healing stage.
Find ways to entertain them to prevent them from feeling lonely most of the time.
For those living separately from their parent, it would be a good idea to let your father or mother stay with you for a while.
Leaving your parent alone in their house may only lead to further depression.
When they live on their own without their partner, the tendency is to feel sad and lonely which could lead to loss of appetite and hope.
If you're the widow or widower, do the best you can as well to recover from the loss.
Just think that if your spouse would have been alive, he or she would not want you to feel so depressed for a long time to the extent that you no longer want to eat and do your usual routine.
After grieving, do go out with old friends and visit your children and grandchildren.
In this way, you entertain yourself and continue to enjoy life with the loved ones who are still with you.