EP 7: Guilt Is Sh!t: Breaking Free from the Chains of Holiday Grief

The holidays can bring both joy and sorrow, and for those navigating grief, the season can be especially challenging. On this heartfelt episode of Affirm That Sh!T, I sit down with an incredible group of guests—Dr. Karen Kramer, Nicole Harvick, Lynn Lewis, Christa Rose, Maria Belanic, and Portia Booker—who open up about their personal experiences with loss and how they’ve been able to heal. We discuss how to cope with the empty chair at the table, the feelings of survivor’s guilt, and how to redefine or even let go of holiday traditions after loss. These raw, honest conversations provide insight into surviving the holidays and finding ways to honor your emotions, both the grief and the joy. You’ll hear about: Surviving the "second holiday" when the numbness fades (Dr. Karen Kramer) Embracing all emotions—grief, joy, and everything in between (Maria Belanic) Keeping traditions alive, or deciding it’s okay to let them go (Christa Rose) Creating new memories while cherishing old ones (Lynn Lewis) Finding spiritual meaning and signs after loss (Nicole Harvick) Navigating family dynamics and the loss of the matriarch (Portia Booker) This episode is about learning to move through the holidays with courage and authenticity, allowing yourself to feel everything and begin healing.