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Practical guideGriefFamily1 minute read

Holidays and anniversaries

Getting through the dates you know are coming.

Birthdays, anniversaries, religious holidays and family occasions can be very hard after a loss.

Plan ahead

Often the days leading up are worse than the day itself. Decide in advance what you want to do, even if the plan is to do very little.

Options

  • Keep the tradition, but do it differently
  • Do something completely new
  • Spend the day with people who knew the person
  • Spend it alone, if that is what you need
  • Mark the person in a small way: a candle, a toast, their favourite food

Let people know

Tell close people that the date is hard. Many will want to help but not know when.

Afterwards

Be kind to yourself the day after. You got through it, however it went.

KEEP EXPLORING

Keep exploring.

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