At the young age of 40, Carole Brody Fleet had a thriving career in the cosmetics industry.  She built a new house from her Mary Kay Cosmetics earnings and became a national winner of top sales awards and numerous accolades. But none of her success could soothe the deep pain she experienced when her husband died after a two year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease. A young widow with a then, 11 year old daughter, Carole had days when she literally could not get out of bed.

Loss is ageless but the issues young widows deal with are unique. Five years after her husband’s death, Carole had begun to recover financially; massive medical bills depleted her bank account, even with a steady income. After the long journey of emotional healing she was ready to share her widow’s wisdom with others who had experienced a loss. She wanted to utilize her experiences to educate women who needed a resource, and thus her writing career began. It has since become her passion and life mission to bring the message of hope, promise and abundance to those who have been touched by the pain and challenge of widowhood, regardless of age.

The Things People Don’t Tell You

Carole scoured the available grief and bereavement books to help her through the difficult times after her husband’s death. What frustrated her most was the lack of information about what to do next, after the grief. She needed help getting her benefits from the government, battling with insurance companies and dealing with the nitty-gritty details of widowhood that nobody was willing to discuss out loud.

She needed help with practical and financial transitioning back into the world of the living. Carole was a young and attractive woman but she struggled with the widow stigma and often felt guilty if she put on makeup or her signature high heels. And what about dating again? Could she ever consider romance again or was she doomed to be a lifelong widow wearing black?

The Black Widow

Carole remembers a lucid moment at her husband’s funeral when she realized she was technically a widow but did not want to succumb to the stereotypical image of a widow – she wore stilettos after all!

Current research tells us that 40% of single mothers in the US are widows. Carole was more determined than ever to build a support network for other women and she began a series of public speaking engagements and became known as the “inspiration lady.” Appreciative widows came out of the woodwork to begin their healing journey with Carole and her audience grew from local presentations to national appearances like ABC’s Good Morning America and a feature article in Women’s World magazine.

In order to focus her new calling and tap into her long time joy of writing, Carole penned the book Widows Wear Stilettos: A Practical and Emotional Guide for the Young Widow. She also authored and served as executive producer for her CD: Widows Wear Stilettos: What Now? Carole’s goal is to effect positive change and help women deal with the realities of widowhood with answers to the tough questions nobody else was willing to address.

Widow on a Mission

In addition to her many national multi media appearances on radio, TV and as a motivational speaker, Carole’s Widows Wear Stiletto’s website is widely recognized as a leading resource in bereavement recovery. She receives between 800-1000 new messages from widows each week and takes pride in reading each one.

The plight of the young widow is unique and Carole’s niche market approach deals with issues such as:

• Taking ownership of your personal healing journey.
• Coping with the comments, opinions, and insights that you may encounter from others.
• Fashion, beauty, diet and exercise tips including quick and easy recipes.
• Advice on how and when to re-enter the world of dating and what to do once you get there.
• Financial and practical transitioning with how-to’s, check lists, and guidelines.
• Helping children of all ages adapt and transition after the loss of a parent.

In addition, Carole also provides personal coaching to help widows move forward in their healing. Fully aware that some clients need the care of medical or psychiatric professionals, Carole’s coaching intent is to serve as a complementary resource as a widow who has walked in those shoes.

You’ll Never Walk Alone

The journey of authoring books has indeed been a challenge as the publishing industry is inundated with new authors. For every 25 million writers, only 5% get publishing contracts. But Carole was determined to help others and developed a thick skin and with her resilience and tenacity she landed a contract with New Horizon Press. Her newest publication Widows Wear Stilettos: The Answer Book – The Ultimate Question, Answer and Reference Guide for Widows is forthcoming.

The most important message Carole provides is that widows have resources and a large network of fellow widows for support and encouragement. The empowerment of widows is what drives Carole on a daily basis, and above all the message is that these women are not alone.

Life Support for Widows

Widowhood is a frightening prospect for any woman, but the reality of becoming a widow in your forties, thirties or twenties can be terrifying.  Not only must one face normal grief, but also the additional painful issues that arise with the death of a young person. Because of catastrophic events such as the World Trade Center tragedy, the Gulf and Iraqi Wars, the demographic of young widows has grown suddenly and dramatically.

Carole’s books, website, and motivational speeches have proven to be a form of life support for many young widows. She has been featured in many magazines, newspapers and websites, including: Psychology Today, The Houston Chronicle, More, Cosmopolitan, Military Officer, Philadelphia Daily News and Orange County Register.  She was a featured contributor in the Hartford Courant and Boston Metro News and continues to write articles in national publications.

Today Carole resides in Lake Forest, California with her daughter, three cats and over 100 pairs of shoes. Yes, this widow has begun a new life and is dedicated to helping others who have experienced a devastating loss do the same.

Quote: “Focusing on ‘Why me?’ for too long does nothing to change your situation or further healing. Choosing instead to focus on ‘What now?’…will!” Carole Brody Fleet

Carole’s Advice and Action Steps:

• Not everyone is going to love what you do or the choices you make – let it roll.
• Develop a thick skin and believe in yourself.
• The motivation for me to do good things for others is stronger than seeking a job that just pays the bills.

Resources:

Widows Wear Stilettos www.widowswearstilettos.com