Wintering: Rest for the Grieving Heart

Wintering: Rest for the Grieving Heart

In her memoir, Wintering: Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, author Katherine May reflects on the “sparse beauty” of winter as “a time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.” Winter provides is with an opportunity...
Children and the Holidays

Children and the Holidays

For many children, the holiday season is full of excitement—sparkling lights, special traditions, and moments of joy. But for children who are grieving the death of someone they love, the holidays can also bring feelings of sadness, longing, isolation, and confusion....
Falling Leaves, Shifting Seasons, Changing Stories

Falling Leaves, Shifting Seasons, Changing Stories

Fall as a Metaphor for Grief Fall invites us to notice change. The air cools, the light fades earlier, and the trees release their leaves one by one. For many of us who are grieving, this season can feel especially tender. The outward signs of change in nature often...
The Spoon Theory of Grief

The Spoon Theory of Grief

Dr. Kenneth Doka reminds us that “there is little work more difficult than [that of] working through grief.” Doing the work of grief involves having to un-learn the patterns and rhythms that have governed our lives with our loved ones – the daily phone call to mom,...