[image_frame style=”framed_shadow” align=”left” height=”350″ width=”613″ link_to = “false” prettyphoto = “false”]https://www.garyroe.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/2014-Nov_Holiday_Campaign.jpg[/image_frame]
Image courtesy of SFcreative
[div style=”!important; position: relative; top:-15px”]
[dropcap2 variation=”coffee”]H[/dropcap2]appy Holidays? Merry Christmas?
Not for everyone.
Many are struggling with the loss of a loved one. Perhaps it’s you. If so, help is on the way.
If you’re not grieving this year, I’ll bet you can remember the first holidays after you lost someone. This year, you can help someone else navigate theirs.
Help for the Hurting: The Holiday Grief Campaign
For the grieving, holidays bring powerful reminders of their loved ones. Normal holiday stress is compounded astronomically by grief. Celebrating might be the furthest thing from their minds.
From Nov. 21-Dec. 21, we’re having our second Holiday Grief Campaign. We’re going to use Facebook to meet hurting people where they are and help them heal.
Our goals:
- provide a safe environment where people can grieve without judgment
- provide short, inspirational bursts of content to bring comfort and hope
- provide practical ideas and tools to help the bereaved navigate the holidays
How are we going to do this?
Through 5 Facebook posts a week during the campaign.
How You Can Help
It’s simple.
When the time comes, all you have to do is be willing to share 3-5 selected posts from my Gary Roe – Author, Speaker, Survivor Facebook page posts for the 4 weeks of the campaign.
That’s it.
Want to Help?
1. Go to and like my Gary Roe – Author, Speaker, Survivor page. Then you’ll be able to directly share posts from this page.
2. Go to the special Facebook group Holiday Grief Ambassadors and request to become a member. Then you’ll be able to get updates about the campaign.
3. When the time comes, share the selected posts. I’ll let you know which ones these are.
Simple. And we could help thousands.
Resources We’re Providing
In addition to simple, comforting posts, we’re providing three resources designed to help people grieve well:
1. I Miss You: A Holiday Survival Kit – This free, brief e-book explains why holidays are hard and gives three simple steps to making them better while in the midst of grief. Available soon!
2. The Good Grief Mini-Course – This free, 8-session email series combines stories and practical suggestions to help people navigate the grief roller-coaster.
3. Surviving the Holidays Without You – This book is full of stories, warm content, and practical tips for making these holidays good even in the midst of grief. Available in e-book and paperback.
We Need You!
Again, just share 3-5 Facebook posts a week from my Gary Roe – Author, Speaker, Survivor page. That’s it. Together we can make a huge impact.
Question: Are you missing someone this year? How do you deal with Holiday Grief?
[/div]
My dad died very suddenly on November 26th last year. I was in such shock, I don’t remember the holidays last year. This year seems so much harder because I spent a whole year missing him and now dread this season. I don’t want to celebrate. I want to crawl in a hole until January 1 and pretend this time of year doesn’t exist. I never understood hating the holidays until now.
Thanks for sharing, Tennille. I’m so sorry about your dad. For people who lose folks in the Fall, it’s usually the year after that when the holiday grief hits hard. Yes, these holidays will be really different for you. Keep sharing. Keep talking.
My dad died very suddenly on November 26th last year. I was in such shock, I don’t remember the holidays last year. This year seems so much harder because I spent a whole year missing him and now dread this season. I don’t want to celebrate. I want to crawl in a hole until January 1 and pretend this time of year doesn’t exist. I never understood hating the holidays until now.
Thanks for sharing, Tennille. I’m so sorry about your dad. For people who lose folks in the Fall, it’s usually the year after that when the holiday grief hits hard. Yes, these holidays will be really different for you. Keep sharing. Keep talking.
My 20 year old son was killed in a car accident 9 1/2 years ago. Do to his vehicle burning and him bring severely burned, we had him cremated. So when ever we go out of town for holidays I take his ashes with me. One year my youngest son even wraped his ern for a white elephant gift. My mother was furious, but it made everyone else laugh – David would of loved it. He still brings me joy!
Hello Tash. Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry about your son. It sounds like he brought you so much joy, and still does. We never lose them completely – we find ways to go on with them. Blessings to you…
My 20 year old son was killed in a car accident 9 1/2 years ago. Do to his vehicle burning and him bring severely burned, we had him cremated. So when ever we go out of town for holidays I take his ashes with me. One year my youngest son even wraped his ern for a white elephant gift. My mother was furious, but it made everyone else laugh – David would of loved it. He still brings me joy!
Hello Tash. Thank you for sharing. I’m so sorry about your son. It sounds like he brought you so much joy, and still does. We never lose them completely – we find ways to go on with them. Blessings to you…
Yes! My dad died in January, but his downhill spiral also started one year ago today. So not only are we navigating holidays without him, we’re entering our anniversary season. I wrote this on facebook today:
November 12, 2013. I hurried to saddle Willy before it got dark, swung a leg over, and got the call. “He has an obstruction caused by the tumor. If he can’t eat, it may only be weeks.” So Willy went back to his stall and I made phone calls to cover my responsibilities and delivered tough news in my shocked state. The next day, my frank conversation with the oncologist went something like “you need to cry it out and accept it so you can just be with him.” So that’s what I did. You didn’t see me post much about it, but I stayed home and took care of my dad for 2 months. I don’t know how we made it this far, but now we enter anniversary season and we are thankful for your continued prayers.
Hi Blair. Oh my. Yes, this season will be a challenge. Thank you for taking care of your dad. That was huge. And thank you for being willing to help in the Holiday Grief Campaign. Together, we can get through this and heal.
Yes! My dad died in January, but his downhill spiral also started one year ago today. So not only are we navigating holidays without him, we’re entering our anniversary season. I wrote this on facebook today:
November 12, 2013. I hurried to saddle Willy before it got dark, swung a leg over, and got the call. “He has an obstruction caused by the tumor. If he can’t eat, it may only be weeks.” So Willy went back to his stall and I made phone calls to cover my responsibilities and delivered tough news in my shocked state. The next day, my frank conversation with the oncologist went something like “you need to cry it out and accept it so you can just be with him.” So that’s what I did. You didn’t see me post much about it, but I stayed home and took care of my dad for 2 months. I don’t know how we made it this far, but now we enter anniversary season and we are thankful for your continued prayers.
Hi Blair. Oh my. Yes, this season will be a challenge. Thank you for taking care of your dad. That was huge. And thank you for being willing to help in the Holiday Grief Campaign. Together, we can get through this and heal.