Episode 34 - The Holiday Hangover: Grief, Reflection, and Finding Joy After Christmas

After weeks of anticipation, celebration, and emotional effort, the holidays end and for those who are grieving, the quiet that follows can feel overwhelming. In this solo episode of Giving Grief Grace, Lisa reflects on the often-unspoken weight of the days between Christmas and the New Year.Lisa shares personal stories of navigating grief during the holidays, growing up with a birthday just days after Christmas, and now holding both joy and guilt as her son celebrates a December birthday of his own. Through these reflections, she names the complicated emotions that surface — sadness, longing, gratitude, exhaustion — and offers permission to feel all of it without judgment.This episode gently explores how grief can resurface when the celebrations fade, especially for those closing out a year of firsts or stepping into a year of seconds. Lisa also offers practical, compassionate tools for reflecting on the year behind you and planning for the year ahead — from cultivating meaningful relationships and setting intentions, to finding small glimmers of joy that help carry hope forward.If you’re experiencing post-holiday sadness, end-of-year grief, or simply wondering how to move forward while still honoring your loss, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone — and that joy can exist alongside grief, even in the quiet moments.Send us Fan MailThanks for tuning in, your time is valuable and we are so grateful for you! Please share this episode with a friend or someone who could use a hug. You are not alone.Subscribe to the podcast and we'll see you next week! Special thanks to:Podcast Editor Jacqueline van Bierk of Pink Star MusicPodcast Music Good_B_Music