Grief often feels like an endless tunnel with no light, but caring for yourself can gently illuminate the path ahead. It's a proclamation that even in the darkest times, we dare to believe in a future that holds restoration and renewed joy. Hope is the ember that survives even the fiercest storm, and self-care is the gentle breath that fans it into a flame.

The Sunday before the designated Mother’s Day has now been deemed as Motherless Mothers Day. This day allows those to join together in their loss while honouring their absent mother. Mother’s Day is a special day for many, but for those who have lost their mothers, it can be a difficult reminder of the absence, especially for the first couple years. The following suggestions are possible ways to spend the day that continues and honours your maternal relationship.

With the shorter days and colder winter months, many people experience what is often called the winter blues. It’s not uncommon to feel fatigue, sadness, difficulty concentrating, and a disruption in your sleep schedule during the winter season. Adding a dose of grief to the seasonal mix can increase the impulse to isolate, ignore self-care habits, can exacerbate feelings of depression.

Did you know there are 7 types of grief? Isn't everybody’s grief the same? Yes, grief is all the deeply personal internal experience of your thoughts and feeling and this sounds straightforward. Yet, our grief and how we cope with the loss is greatly impacted by factors surrounding the loss.

This letter to grief was the final assignment written by a bereaved daughter who cared for her mother.

The holiday season can be especially challenging to those who are grieving because it is a season, not just a day, that is full of memories and traditions. Grief is hard work no matter the time of year. Tears will likely be a part of your season and may even take a sacred place at the holiday table. A helpful idea is to create your own holiday grief map. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

You may begin to experience anniversary grief response as you approach the upcoming date. The following list may be some of the signs you are experiencing an anniversary grief response: increased feelings of sadness, loss, depression, loneliness, anxiety, fatigue, irritability or anger, as well as physical symptoms, such as sleeplessness, lack of an appetite, difficulty concentrating or an increase in distressing memories, among other things. But you have made it through a full year and if you allow it, hope for the future can be also felt. 

Year 2 of grief is often called the “lonely year”. Many people think that once surviving the first year, and yes, it does feel like you are just hanging by your fingernails, the rest will be easy. Often I hear “I feel like I’m starting all over again” .You aren’t. This is a good time to rejoin a support group or a grief retreat.

How long does grief last? Will I always feel out of control? What is the normal stages of grief?

During the first year, there will begin to be spaces between acute grief and then a special day or holiday looms in the future and we get dragged or pushed down the grief pit again. Each of these markers represents a general overview and carries with it the challenges of the initial year.

Losing a pet is a valid form of loss and grief. It is often explained that a pet becomes a member of the family so no wonder its absence is felt deeply. Our life and home are not the same without our pet’s presence. Often, we have lived with our pet for years and our routine has been shaped by its presence. Pets are a constant and loving companion to families and singles. Loving and loss go hand in hand. This declaration is a list of statements to guide you in your grief.

For many children, losing a pet is often their first experience with death. As a parent, this may be the first time you explain and support your family through a loss.

Pet loss is a legitimate and valid cause of grief. If a person has emotionally bonded with a pet or service animal, its death can be comparable to the grief felt with the death of a human loved one. The death can be felt more intensely when the owner has made a decision to end the pet’s life through euthanasia. However, some pet owners may feel unable to express their loss due to social misconceptions surrounding pet death. When the pet owner internalizes this grief, their suffering increases.

When we are thrust into the events of loss, our lack of knowledge and misconceptions become apparent. These myths can increase the difficulty in moving through grief. Shining a light on expectations that are not helpful is a good place to begin understanding and adjusting to your new reality.

Before I was widowed, I thought grieving was just lots of crying. And it is. But I found out that it is so much more. 

Just like our fingerprints, our grieving is individual.

There is a constellation of symptoms that will be unique to you. As you navigate through the landscape of you grief, life can be very chaotic and upsetting. It’s certainly ok that you’re not ok. 

The following list may suprise and overwhelm you in the length of symptoms. You certainly won’t experience everything here. Remember, your grief shows in your own way. Easy does it.