Hi friend,

Singing carols, shared meals, shopping for gifts…

These are all beloved hallmarks of the holiday season.

But what is a happy time for many, can be a painful time for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one.

The lights may be bright, but to a grieving heart, everything feels dimmer.

And when your grief is fresh, that contrast can feel even sharper.

Although grief is universal, it’s not tidy.

It doesn’t follow rules, and it certainly doesn’t pause for the holiday.

If your heart is weighed down by grief, here are some strategies that may help you or someone you know cope with grief this holiday season.

1. Start a New Tradition

Old traditions might not feel the same now that one important person isn’t there to partake in them. So, give yourself permission to change or add a new tradition. Leave an empty plate at the dinner table or say a few kind words of remembrance.

2. Change the Routine

If being at home feels like too much, do something else for the holidays altogether. Go to dinner with a friend or plan a trip somewhere new. A change of scenery can soften the edges of grief and lessen the pressure to celebrate.

3. Express Your Needs

If you’re finding holiday festivities hard to handle, it’s all right to tell your family that you’re not up for it or to change plans at the last minute. The people who love you want to support your emotional needs at this time – you just need to tell them.

4. Help Someone Else

Holidays can be hard for many people in different ways. Volunteer your time to feed the hungry or donate to a favorite cause in memory of the person who died. Helping others won’t erase your grief, but it can fill another void inside you.

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Even though your grief won’t ever disappear, it will soften or change over time. The holidays will get easier. Let this holiday be whatever it needs to be for you without being clouded by the expectations of others.

As you move through the holidays, choose what supports you and release what doesn’t.

You get to rewrite the rules this year and protect your peace.

And little by little, those small choices will help you make it through this season with more steadiness and care.

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💭 Your Writing Prompt

Prompt: “A Letter to the One I Miss”

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Write a short letter to the person you’re grieving.
What would you want them to know this holiday?
What do you wish you could say, hear, or do together?
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✍🏽 Writing Bravely: January Enrollment Open

If these weekly prompts resonate with you, imagine what six full weeks of guided journaling could do.

Starting the third week of January, Writing Bravely will take you deeper—through reflections, prompts, and gentle provocations designed to help you dialogue with your parts, not avoid them.

This also makes a perfect gift for creative friends and family who are done with surface-level self-help and ready for something real.

➡️ Enroll yourself or gift it here​

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With love + care,
Adina

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