Your Grief Toolbox
Tools to Support You While You Wait
While you’re waiting for counselling or a support group, the Grief Toolbox is here to help. Explore videos, articles, book recommendations, and self-help techniques designed to support you as you move forward through grief — at your own pace.
Tool Kit: Grief During the Holidays
Why Holidays Can Feel So Hard
Holidays are often seen as times for joy, family, and togetherness. They mark milestones and create traditions. But after the loss of someone you love, holidays can magnify absence. The sadness deepens, the loneliness feels sharper, and the very celebrations that once brought comfort can feel overwhelming.
Facing the Feelings
It’s normal to wonder how you’re supposed to “celebrate togetherness when there is none.” Grief is unpredictable — you may feel steady one day and crushed the next. Both are natural. Rather than trying to avoid grief, allow yourself to lean into it. Grief is not just pain — it is also love.
Gentle Reminders for Coping
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Be realistic with expectations. Holidays may not look the same, and that’s okay. Give yourself permission to scale back.
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Plan for self-care. Create a go-to list of people, activities, or comforts that help when emotions feel overwhelming. Write it down so you can turn to it when your energy is low.
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Stay curious about your feelings. Notice what you’re experiencing emotionally, physically, and mentally — without judgment.
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Allow moments of light. Grief doesn’t erase laughter or joy. You may have moments of warmth or relief alongside sadness, and that’s part of healing.
Tools for Each Holiday
We're here to help support you through the holidays
Just Remember, these holidays will be different, and that is okay. Be gentle with yourself — don’t do more than you want to. Honor your loved one in whatever way feels right to you. Above all, know that you are not alone in your grief.
Be kind to yourself...
A personal grief journal can be a really good tool to pour our grief thoughts and feelings into. Simple buy a journal, grab a pen and when grief comes knocking pick both up and empty all that comes up into your journal. It is a simple and personal way to empty out some of that grief ‘stuff’ and you can bring it along with you when you join a grief support group or begin counselling. Keep it close at hand at night too, as often grief arise as we put our head down to sleep.
Paint A Picture of your Grief. For some of us talking just isn’t the way we express ourselves. Painting, a non-verbal way to grieve may well work for you. Grab your brushes, paints and a new canvass and let your grief flow through the brush onto the canvass. In a way give your grief permission to ‘do’ the painting, let your grief choose the colours and the shapes of your grief paint. Sometimes a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.
Find a walking buddy! If our walking groups, Natures Amble is currently not available for weather or scheduling reasons you can always find a good neighbor or great friend who would be willing to join for a walk thru nature as a way to release some of your grief. Moving your body and being in nature can be really healing for some of us. Take the family dog along too, our pets can be great grief buddies!
Cooking a Favorite Meal. Some of us truly enjoy preparing a meal for our loved ones and in the case of the death of a dear loved one we often think we have lost that opportunity. Well, we can cook that favorite meal in memory of our deceased love one and it a unique and personal way remember them fondly as we cook. Then as we eat the lovingly prepared meal, we share some of our memories and stories of them.
Grieving during holidays and special occasions is never easy, and it’s natural to feel a mix of emotions as these days come around. Remember that there is no “right” way to navigate them — only the way that feels best for you in the moment. Give yourself permission to simplify, to rest, and to create new traditions or rituals that honor your loved one. Above all, be gentle with yourself. Healing doesn’t mean forgetting; it means carrying love forward in ways that sustain you.