Vu-Vu-Vulnerability — What Does it Mean & Why Does it Matter?

“For what it’s worth, seeing you that day was the worst moment of my career. I’ve never seen a human being look so…vulnerable.”

– Excerpt from “A Widow’s Awakening” by Maryanne Pope

Let’s talk vulnerability, shall we?

When our heart and soul have been shattered into a million pieces, such as in the aftermath of a significant loss, we may find ourselves extremely vulnerable.

But what does this look like? What does vulnerability mean…and why does it matter?

I was widowed young (32) and learned first hand what “being vulnerable” feels like…there was the weird sense of shame about letting other people see how hurt, devastated, and terrified I really was.

My husband died at work — he fell through an unmarked false ceiling and died of a brain injury.

This excerpt from my book, “A Widow’s Awakening,” captures the moment when I (“Adri”) saw my husband, John (“Sam”), in the hospital for the first time since his fall. I have just been told by the emergency room doctor that he has suffered a massive brain injury. He is in critical condition but stable because he is on life support: