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“Hope during the holidays can be soft—like a candle that glows even on the hardest nights.” ~ Anonymous Grief and tough days can hit out of nowhere, and can be triggered exponentially in the holiday season. If you're having a hard moment, a tough day, or a challenging season, know that there is hope, even if ever so slight. Lean into the memories, visit them through pictures, and hold space for yourself. These moments won't last forever, and are fueled by the love you cont

Your sock kept falling down and rubbing weird in your shoe. The hot water turned lukewarm in the middle of your shower. You stepped in a puddle of slush and your feet were soaked and freezing. You forgot your lunch. You felt overwhelmed by everything you wanted to accomplish today. The cashier had an attitude with you over making change. You got bad news on a project at work. You forgot to defrost the meat and now you're hangry. You get the picture. There are TONS of u

It's no secret that there is nothing simple about the holidays. Scheduling get togethers around work schedules, other commitments, and juggling obligations can be enough hassle in itself. Adding in gifts, coordinating meals, decorating, and staying healthy on top of normal life needs can be simply too much. But, does it have to be this way? Do we need to show up to every gathering with piles of gifts, spending hundreds of dollars to have one picture perfect day? What is one

Chances are whether you're tiptoeing through the holidays with grief or juggling more than you feel you can carry, you're going to be faced with the feeling of being overwhelmed. Having a support system and knowing where to turn can make or break the entire season. So ask yourself, "Who can I reach out to when holiday emotions feel too much?" This may be a sibling, a friend, a parent, a coworker, a religious member, or even a therapist. There is no shame in asking for hel

If you close your eyes and think of the happiest holiday memory you have, chances are you envision yourself younger, surrounded by the people that you're closest to, when times felt simpler. What part of that memory is the strongest? Maybe you remember a specific scent - maybe hot cocoa steaming in the air after a day in the snow, freshly baked cookies cooling on a rack, the smell of the fireplace crackling as you opened presents. Maybe you remember the foil wrapping paper t

As you begin making your lists, shopping, running errands, putting your children or loved ones needs ahead of your own, and creating holiday magic for everyone else to enjoy, make sure to check in with yourself. A great place to start? Ask yourself: How will I show up for myself this season? Having a goal to make time for yourself may be just what you need amid a busy season, which might trigger a dark season in your grief. This might look different for everyone. For some

Leading up to the holidays can be a daunting time filled with to do lists, shopping, gift wrapping, cleaning, decorating, and stressing. Adding grief to the mix is a variable that throws the entire picture out of focus. Each day for the next 25 days, we'll be here, balancing dozens of tasks right along side of you. Stop by for a brief minute - it can be a space to reflect on the season you're in, a moment to hold space for yourself in your grief, or a quick mental reset in

Whether you've experienced grief yourself or you're watching someone else grieve, there is a good chance you've wondered, 'How can I help?' Be there. Even if your loved one wants to be alone or tries to isolate, there are quiet ways you can show you care while granting that space. By sending them a "just because" card with a funny memory, a silly joke, or just saying hi, they have a great distraction from their grief for even just a minute. Dropping off or mailing a basket

Grief as the Seasons Change As the leaves change colors and the air cools, grief often stirs quietly beneath the surface. There’s...

"Let's hit the road, we're going on a trip!" Living in a place where fun destinations are hours away by car, road trips were, and still...

When Grief Resurfaces After a National Tragedy As we hear over and over, grief has no timeline. Just when we think we've found a new...

Why Grief Flowers Don’t Work Hearing the news of a death often triggers a similar thought for many - I need to order flowers for the...

When someone is grieving, even the smallest tasks can feel impossible—returning library books, picking up prescriptions, mailing that...

Grief doesn’t knock before it comes in. It doesn’t text you first with an ETA. Grief does not RSVP to the emotional chaos we sometimes...

Sometimes, healing comes in ink. The ink of a pen jotting out a love note, the ink of a remembrance tattoo of their birth...

Grief is rarely simple. The lonely nights, the misunderstanding onlookers, feeling like you're drowning in feelings you can't even...

Father’s Day feels differently when your dad is no longer here. The advertising, the aisles of every store lined with cheesy gifts, the...

Father’s Day can be a complicated, aching reminder for dads who have lost a child. Missing the traditional things - the homemade...

In the midst of grief, words often fail us. We stumble over our words, maybe feel shy to share feelings that other people won't...

When Grief Touches a Community Grief doesn’t just affect individuals (though it may hit harder for some) it ripples through entire...