The holiday season is often described as a time of joy, but for many bereaved people, it can be a difficult time filled with overwhelming grief. Facing your first Christmas without a loved one is an emotionally challenging time, marked by a combination of feelings—from deep sadness and longing to moments of peace and even
Christmas is a season of memories—both joyful and bittersweet. When you’re grieving the loss of someone special, holiday traditions, festive lights, and family gatherings may shine a spotlight on their absence. While grief can make the holiday season feel heavy, it can also be a meaningful opportunity to honor your loved one and keep their
Holiday grief journal prompts give your heart a safe place to land. They help you honor your loved one, explore your emotions, and find moments of peace—even when the season feels overwhelming. When memories of loved ones, holiday traditions, and the societal pressure to feel “merry” collide, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. Grief stirs up complex
Grief rewrites our address book, as the saying goes, and the holidays can really underscore the difficulties in our relationships. While it is helpful to try to surround yourself with emotionally safe people this holiday season, the reality is you will likely wind up face to face with difficult people who push your buttons. Whether it
The holidays have a way of magnifying everything—joy, grief, connection, and loneliness. For those of us navigating estranged relationships, it’s a season that often highlights what we’ve lost while challenging us to find strength in what we still have: ourselves. The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, connection, and celebration. But for
Grief during the holidays isn’t about letting go—it’s about learning to tend to your heartache and carry the love forward in a way that honors both your relationship and your memories The winter holiday season without your loved one is a difficult time that no one wants to face, yet many of us must. The traditions,
Grieving during the holidays can feel like an uphill battle. The season often brings heightened emotions, constant reminders of your loss, and unrealistic expectations from yourself and others. While you can’t control every aspect of grief, there are ways to tend to your pain with intention, compassion, and care. Coping with grief during the holidays is
Grief during the holidays can feel like an emotional rollercoaster, pulling you between heartache and moments of bittersweet memory. But each holiday you face gives you a chance to learn, grow, and prepare for what’s next. It’s not about making it perfect—it’s about finding ways to honor your emotions while creating space for love. If you
Even though Thanksgiving can be a tender and challenging time when you’re grieving, this meditation offers a way to transform heartache into love and meaning. By reflecting on the many ways your loved one has shaped your life, you honor their memory and the enduring bond you share. Thanksgiving can then become more than a
Every holiday season, I work with my clients to create strategies for reducing holiday anxiety and navigating this emotionally charged time of year. But even with the best plan in your back pocket, it’s natural to feel “tipped over” at times. Grief is a natural reaction to loss, and it doesn’t always follow a schedule—feelings
Deciding not to attend holiday events while grieving isn’t about saying no to people you care about—it’s about saying yes to what you need to heal. I am not Emily Post. And grief is not finishing school. But having a framework for saying no to holiday events that honors your grieving heart is a superpower that
The holidays can feel like a minefield of emotions when you’re grieving. Thanksgiving, in particular, brings particular challenges—family traditions, expectations, and gatherings that can feel overwhelming when you’re carrying the weight of loss. While loved ones may mean well, their expectations for how you “should” show up during the holiday don’t always align with what
Heather Stang’s latest book, Navigating Loss, goes beyond traditional grief literature. It addresses the often overlooked “non-death” losses, such as divorce, caregiving, and career transitions, that can leave us feeling unmoored. Through mindfulness, journaling, and creative exercises, Heather provides tools to help readers process grief, find meaning, and rebuild their lives. Key Themes of the Book:Non-Death
When you’re grieving, it can feel like you are in the loneliest place in the world. Even if you’re surrounded by friends and family who love you, the ache of loss can make you feel like no one really understands what you’re going through. And honestly? That’s because often they don’t. Grief has this unique way
The holiday season can be hard when you’re grieving, and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re definitely not alone. I created Awaken Grief Support Program because I know what it’s like to face the holidays carrying the weight of loss—my first loss happened just before Thanksgiving and forever changed my family. Since then, supporting others through this season
