Head down until Christmas

Halloween is over, Bonfire Night lasts for weeks, and they're already playing Driving Home For Christmas in the shops.

Christmas ads, party menus, gift guides, Secret Santas and Elf on the ruddy Shelf, it's all such a lot.

And in the midst of all this ballyhoo comes Grief Awareness Week (2nd - 8th December). It seems an odd time of year to focus on grief and loss, but in reality it's perfect timing.

When I was little, my Mum used to wrap our normal table mats in Christmas wrapping paper for Christmas Day. I was always baffled why she did this. But that's what we do at Christmas, isn't it?

We take our normal everyday lives and cover them up, pretending they are brighter. But it's the cracks which normally lie unnoticed on the wall, which are suddenly illuminated by tinsel and fairy lights.

Christmas is hard in itself, but also because of the pressure to pretend that it is not. Acknowledging that, recognising the cracks, can be a huge gift.

If you're an employer, here are some things you can do for Grief Awareness Week (and Christmas in general). Or ask your employer or do for them for yourself.

?? Have a space where people can name the people they are missing. Memory trees, memory walls, and ornaments to hang can all be a lovely gesture.

?? Offer to make a charity donation in memory of someone who has been lost

??Recognise that not everyone will be having a 'Merry Christmas'

Grief Awareness Week Events and Webinars

Invite me to talk at your organisation during Grief Awareness Week. I still have some slots left for one-hour or 90-minute webinars (only a couple, though).

In the session I cover:

• What grief looks and feels like: How to acknowledge our own grief and identify when a teammate may be struggling.
• What to say, and what not to say: Nobody wants to say the wrong thing, but it's better than nothing at all.
• Practical things that can help people at work: Practical approaches to balance empathy with getting the needs of the business.

It's not traumatic or sad, but an honest portrayal of what many of us are experiencing but don't talk about.

How to book: Here’s a link with more details. Because I only have a limited number available, there’s a button to pencil in your slot – so I don’t accidentally over book! Put your name down and then I'll be in touch to discuss the finer details.

https://guides.armadillosocial.com/grief-awareness-week

Can't fit me in?

Fear not, I'll be sharing more advice and resources across the week. I'll keep you posted on what that will be.

In other news

Heartwarming content of the week has to be this clip of Andrew Garfield talking to Elmo about the death of his Mum.

We often worry about talking about grief with young people, but they are often the best at telling it like it is.

This is just beautiful

Anna Maxwell Martin and Financial Terror

I'm a big fan of Anna Maxwell Martin, and have been loving Ludwig, so it was striking to her her recent Woman's Hour about the death of her husband in 2020.

I often talk about the financial impact of grief, and how that often goes unnoticed as everyone wants to think "there are more important things than money" in times of need.

You can listen to it here

Some recent feedback

Last month I delivered a session to the General Dental Council. It was a powerful session, and here is some of the feed back.

"A great reflective session which tackles a very difficult and complex topic. I would recommend this session to anyone as grief effects everyone in some way. Louise delivers the content brilliantly, sharing her learned experience of grief and how to cope extremely well."

"This was a great course, really insightful and had great points to take away. Louis made the session really friendly and with her own situation she shared it was all very relatable ... Growing up never really had anything like this so when grief came like an unwanted visitor didn’t know how to deal with it whereas now with the losses I have faced and those around me I could talk to when low or sad I have tolls I can try an implement and has made me more empathetic to others and their situations if I can help in any way"