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As holidays come to an end, the new year may bring mixed emotions. Stepping into another year without your loved one can feel daunting. However, it also offers a chance to reflect, honor your journey, and begin to envision a hopeful future. Reflect on Your Journey Take pride in the strength and courage you’ve shown in these tender moments navigating the delicate balance between grief and celebration. Acknowledge your resilience and the steps you’ve taken, no matter how small.

Grief can make it hard to imagine feeling joy during the holidays. You might feel conflicted---how can you smile or feel grateful when someone you love is gone? Remember, feeling joy is not a betrayal of your loved one; it’s part of being human. Embrace small Joys Having joy will get you through difficult times. Notice simple moments of beauty, like twinkling lights, a favorite song, or a warm blanket. Let yourself enjoy these small comforts. Small moments of joy can be gifts

Social gatherings during the holidays can be especially difficult when you’re grieving. Being surrounded by others who may not understand your pain or encountering traditions that feel incomplete without your loved one, can bring anxiety or sadness. Decide What Feels Right for You It’s okay to decline invitations or leave early if a gathering feels overwhelming. You can even share in advance: “I’d love to join, but I might not stay the whole time.” This was something I did on

Honoring Your Loved One When someone we love is no longer here to celebrate the holidays with us, their absence can feel even more profound. However, the love and memories they gave us don’t disappear, they remain a part of who we are. Finding ways to honor your loved one can be a comforting way to keep their spirit alive. Creating a Special Ritual Rituals provide structure and can emphasize loving memories and give expression to feelings far beyond our vocabularies. As an in

This series is designed to provide comfort, guidance, and hope for those navigating the holiday season after the loss of a loved one. Each week focuses on a different aspect of coping and healing. Week 1: Acknowledging the Pain of the Holidays The holiday season is often described as the “most wonderful time of year.” But for those of us grieving the loss of someone we love, it can feel anything but wonderful. The familiar traditions, the festive music, even the twinkling lig

Grief can be a lonely place, even when we’re surrounded by people who love us. Friends and family often want to help, but unless they’ve experienced a similar loss, it can be hard for them to fully understand what our hearts are carrying. After David’s passing, I found that even in the company of loved ones, there were moments I felt completely alone in my grief. That’s when many begin to wonder: Would joining a support group help? In the weeks and months following a loss, we

“Grief has taught me that loss changes us, but it also deepens us. It opens our hearts to compassion, to memory, and to the quiet beauty of continuing with love still guiding the way.” In the years since David’s passing, I’ve learned that grief is not a chapter that closes---it’s a story that continues to unfold. Through the comfort of familiar recipes, the sharing of memories, and the quiet reflection that comes with time, I’ve discovered that grief has much to teach us abou

We’ve all heard the saying, “The show must go on.” It’s often used to express resilience----the idea that no matter what happens, life keeps moving forward. But when you’ve suffered a loss, those words can sound almost impossible. How do we go on when our hearts are broken? When the person who once filled our days with love and laughter is no longer here? After my husband David passed, I remember waking up some mornings and wondering how I would face the day. The routines tha

When grief entered my life, it felt as though everything familiar had been stripped away. The routines I once leaned on became...

There are moments in grief when the world feels colorless, when it’s hard to imagine ever feeling lightness again. In those moments, the...

Recently I had the opportunity to go back "home" and have a wonderful book launch for  Recipes for Healing: Working Through Grief One...

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by celebrity writer Jules LaVallee, which was featured in the lifestyle section of...

Mother's Day is a time set aside to celebrate the women who have nurtured, guided, and loved us. For many, it's a joyful day of gratitude...

Joy and Sorrow. Can we find joy while experiencing grief and sorrow? Yes, grief and joy are not mutually exclusive. You can mourn someone you have lost and still laugh at a memory.

This is about the different ways we are able to practice self- care of our emotional and physical well-being while grieving.

Losing a loved one leaves a void, some say a gaping hole, that can never truly be filled, but their presence remains in the memories we...

How do we navigate these moments while honoring both your grief and the love you shared? Losing someone you love is one of the most...