A Christmas grief survival guide

Christmas carries with it many mixed feelings. We are surrounded by the colours, flavours and merry messages of the season. But many are also living with grief after facing the loss of a loved one and learning to manage the triggers that come with it. 

Toronto resident Janet Fanaki is a widow, Resilience Explorer and here to speak on the ways we can navigate our feelings of loss and also offer helpful tips for those who are searching for ways to help friends and family who are living with grief. 

Janet lost her 51 year old husband Adam to brain cancer in February of 2020. 

“The first year without him was very hard since we were all in lockdown and couldn’t gather with loved ones,” she says. “Since the children and I have learned to manage all of the special days of the year in new ways, I have some helpful advice for others new to grief.”

Some of Janet’s advice for getting through the holidays includes:

• Hold on to old traditions but don’t be afraid to start new ones
• Practice self-care for the day - do what feels right
• Tap into virtual communities on Facebook and online grief support groups
• For friends looking to help, offer to do a Zoom call, drop-off a special treat or take a walk together
• Friends and family should ensure that they allow the grieving person to talk about their departed loved one and listen intently 

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Janet Fanaki is the creator and host of the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast where she shares conversations with regular people from around the world who are admired for their resilience. They have overcome a major challenge and found a purpose from it to help others be resilient too. 

To interview Janet, contact her at [email protected] or (416) 271-7887.