November Grief Talk Recap

The holiday season is often described as “the most wonderful time of the year”—a time filled with cozy gatherings, sparkling lights, and traditions that bring people together. But for those grieving, this season can feel heavy, complicated, or even painful. November’s Grief Talk, Grieving Through the Holidays: Navigating the Season Without Them, was created to offer support, understanding, and tools for walking through this time with intention and compassion.

Whether you were able to attend or missed the gathering, here’s a full recap of what we explored together.

Why the Holidays Feel Different When You’re Grieving

One of the first things we acknowledged is that grief doesn’t take time off for the holidays. In fact, the season often amplifies grief.
The empty chair at the table…
The traditions that no longer look the same…
The pressure to be “merry”…
These moments can bring grief into sharper focus.

A quote we used during the talk captured this well:

“The same light that brings warmth to others can cast long shadows for those who grieve.”

Grief during the holidays is not a sign that you’re going backward. It’s simply your love looking for a place to land.

Naming What the Season Brings Up for You

We discussed common emotional experiences that often arise during the holidays:

  • Feeling out of place in celebrations
  • Wishing the world would slow down or soften
  • Experiencing unexpected waves of sadness
  • Feeling guilt for enjoying moments or creating new memories
  • Wanting to withdraw more than usual
  • Or simply feeling “different” than the people around you

To begin, we explored how grief intensifies during a season built on tradition, memory, and togetherness. Participants received a reflection worksheet to help them identify their own emotional hotspots—moments where grief feels especially tender.

Some guiding questions included:

  • What parts of the season bring the most comfort? The most pain?
  • Where do I feel my grief showing up most strongly this year?
  • How am I experiencing the contrast between the holiday world around me and my internal world?

Holiday Permission Slips: A Hands-On Practice

One of the favorite parts of the talk was our hands-on activity: Holiday Permission Slips.

Grief often brings pressure—internal and external—to show up in certain ways. But the truth is: you get to decide what you need this season.

Participants filled out slips that gave them permission to:

  • Change traditions
  • Keep things the same
  • Leave early
  • Say no
  • Say yes
  • Rest
  • Honor their person in quiet or creative ways
  • Make space for joy without guilt
  • Do things differently than others expect
  • Cancel plans
  • Ask for help
  • Protect their emotional energy

Giving yourself written permission creates a shift. It brings intention, clarity, and empowerment into a season that often feels overwhelming.

Creating Meaningful & Manageable Traditions

We also explored how grief can change traditions—and how you can gently adapt rather than force yourself into what no longer fits.

Some options we discussed included:

  • Lighting a candle in memory of your loved one
  • Creating a new ritual that honors them
  • Making space for quiet reflection amid a busy season
  • Choosing one tradition to keep, one to let go of, and one to create
  • Having an “escape plan” for emotionally charged gatherings
  • Doing something meaningful for someone else in their honor

Grief does not mean you must erase joy. Joy and sorrow can coexist, and both are welcome.

You Are Not Alone This Season

Holidays can intensify loneliness, longing, or emotional exhaustion. But they can also offer opportunities for connection, reflection, and gentle healing when approached intentionally.

If you find yourself struggling this season, remember:

✨ Your grief is valid.
✨ You don’t have to perform joy.
✨ You are allowed to do what feels right for you.
✨ Love doesn’t disappear just because traditions change.

Our monthly Grief Talks exist so you have a space to be honest, supported, and understood—especially during seasons that amplify your loss.

Join Us Next Month

If this conversation resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to join our next Grief Talk. Each month we explore a different aspect of grief in a supportive, community-centered space. Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1304139599649?aff=oddtdtcreator

Stay connected, and remember:
hope is still possible—one gentle step at a time.