Mourning Breaks

01/23/2026

💛

01/22/2026

💛 A little encouragement for you.

01/19/2026

Mourning Reflection…

(Thoughts on Blue Monday)

You may have heard that today (the 3rd Monday in January) is often referred to as “Blue Monday.” Did you know that this term originally became widespread as a marketing strategy intended to encourage people to plan a vacation in January? (hello capitalism)!

Scientifically, it is not actually true that it is the most depressing day of the year. What we do know however, is that in this area of the world, when days are shorter, darker, and colder, it’s quite common to notice a shift in mood and motivation.

Many of us experience what’s more commonly known as the “winter blues,” at this time of year. In fact, as many as 15% of people experience the winter blues in Canada. (separate from a clinical diagnosis of SAD, or seasonal affective disorder).

In addition to environmental factors, many of us feel pressures related to post-holiday debt, exhaustion, and often experience a plunge into isolation. Given the state of the world, the political violence and instability we are witnessing, it might naturally feel extra weighty.

When we take into consideration that we’re also grieving the loss of someone or something integral to our lives as this new year unfolds, it’s no surprise that it can feel quite overwhelming and heavy to navigate these days.

The usefulness, in my mind, in drawing attention to “Blue Monday” is to consider that it provides us with an opportunity, a gentle prompt, to check in with ourselves. How are we (really) doing? How are we feeling? What might we consider doing to bring some ease—emotionally and physically—to our days.

Take some time today if you can to consider what you might need and who you might call upon to help support you through the weeks ahead. This will look different for each of us, so be careful to resist the urge to compare with others and what they’re doing. Honour your own individual needs and experiment to find what works best for you.

Maybe it’s making sure your favourite tea is on your grocery list, perhaps it’s a short 15-minute walk around the block, maybe it’s a visit to the library, a phone call with a friend, a quiet afternoon working on a puzzle, a favourite meal. It can be anything that brings a little joy and respite—even briefly—to nurture your body, mind, and spirit. Remember to be patient, and hold compassion for yourself along the way.

Worth a try, right? 😊

I’m thinking of you today. I’m always trying to find ways that work for me, and I’m always rooting for you, too!!

~ Cheryl 💙



Image: ©️CWituik

01/19/2026

Please share within your circles. An important, unique, and much-needed offering from This Thing Called Grief in addition to the counselling and therapy services we offer on site. 💛

If you could please share! You don't know who needs this.

Coming Soon: Night Support for Grief & Loss

The nights can be so hard.
When everything is quiet.
When your mind won’t rest.
When grief feels heavier in the dark.

We’re preparing to offer night time grief informed support, a gentle place to talk, to breathe, and to feel less alone during the hours that often feel the longest.

This is not our usual counselling or therapy. It’s grief informed support, grounded in understanding, lived experience, and compassion, offered with care and without expectation.

If you are looking for grief counselling, please book with one of our practitioners during regular hours.

For more information on pricing or how to book, feel free to message us or email us at thisthingcalledgrief@gmail.com.

More details coming soon.

For now, please know: you don’t have to sit alone with your grief at night

01/16/2026

Many of you know that I often talk about the importance of drawing inward, of listening to the rhythms of our own minds and bodies, of building deeper levels of awareness and understanding, of honouring our internal wisdom and our hearts along the way.

Winter is meant to be a time to slow down, to rest, to listen, to reflect, to guide ourselves inward to deepen our knowledge of self and the world around us. To foster softness, and peace.

I’m entering into silent retreat today and for the remainder of the weekend. Immersing myself in mindful meditation, nurturing my mind, body, and spirit in peaceful natural surroundings, connecting to the land and community without the need for words.

I’ll see you on the other side. 🙂💛🙏🏼❄️🦉🪾

Image: ©️CWituik 1/2/21

01/15/2026

This is an excellent supportive response to remember when someone is sharing their experience with you, too.

Hearing a friend say “Of course you feel that way…” in response to an expression of pain, of suffering, of sorrow, can be a tremendous comfort.

It acknowledges and validates with tenderness, and creates space for honest, vulnerable realities. It signals that you’re in the moment with them, that you can sit with the fullness of the emotions that are present without judgment, without trying to fix or change or “silver line” them.

💛

01/15/2026

When a sibling dies, it's not just the physical separation. It's also the removal of daily moments. The calls, texts, laughs, and reassurances go away. It’s the conversations that only your sibling would understand, that are lost. For adults, losing a sibling means losing a retirement buddy, support taking care of aging parents, and the ability to share childhood memories. For children and adolescents, losing a sibling young can create losing a playmate and someone to read stories and share childhood with.

Read the blog by Help Texts' Expert Contributor, Jillian M. Blueford here: https://loom.ly/JvLiUFc

01/13/2026

This Thursday, in London. An hour of your time to learn about the value of Advanced Care Planning. 💛

Advance Care Planning isn’t about giving up—it’s about speaking up. 💙

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about, talking through, and writing down what matters most to you when it comes to your healthcare. It helps ensure your wishes, values, and goals are respected if there ever comes a time when you can’t communicate them yourself.
It can include conversations with loved ones and healthcare providers, choosing a Substitute Decision-Maker to speak on your behalf, and documenting the types of care or treatments you would—or wouldn’t—want.

Why does this matter?
✨ It ensures your voice is heard
✨ It reduces stress and uncertainty for your family during difficult moments
✨ It gives healthcare teams clear guidance, rooted in what matters to you

The best time to start Advance Care Planning is before you need it...when you’re feeling well and able to make thoughtful decisions. And it’s not a one-time conversation; it’s something you can revisit and update as life changes.

Planning ahead is an act of care—for yourself and for the people you love. 🤍

If you’d like to learn more about Advance Care Planning or where to begin, we’re here to support you.

We have partnered with VON Middlesex-Elgin to offer an Advance Care Planning workshop, facilitated by one of our very own volunteers who received training through HPCO. This workshop is on Thursday, January 15, 2025, from 12:00–1:00 PM at Rowntree Memorial United Church in London. This one-hour session will help participants understand how to identify a Substitute Decision Maker, navigate consent to care under Ontario law, appoint a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, and share the values and wishes that guide future healthcare decisions.

For more information or to RESERVE your spot call 226-374-6807 or
Julie.McConnell-Goulbourne@von.ca

01/12/2026

If you’re interested in understanding more about MAiD in Canada and the nuances specific to mental illness, a reminder that this 6-week discussion begins today.

This week marks the beginning of a six-week written exchange between us and Gordon Friesen of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition.

Each week, we’ll alternate posts, responding directly to one another’s arguments in a structured, good-faith format. Our aim is to examine areas of real disagreement carefully and transparently, without soundbites or shortcuts.

As agreed, Kim and I won’t be engaging in the comment threads during the exchange itself, but readers are very welcome to discuss and debate freely. Once the exchange concludes, we’ll revisit the discussion and respond where clarification is needed.

Week one is now live. We will respond on Jan 19. Subscribe to be notified.
https://maidincanada.substack.com/p/a-six-week-exchange-with-the-euthanasia-bb2

01/11/2026

Mourning Reflection…

Because we spend our days supporting others in grief, because we dedicate ourselves to easing the suffering of others, people sometimes forget that grief counsellors, death workers, and therapists working within this sector are human and that we experience pain in our lives, too. We are not immune to suffering simply on the basis of our vocation. Granted, we might be a little more equipped to navigate disruption and loss but our hearts still ache, like yours.

I’m sharing a small part of my personal world today, in part because it impacts what I can realistically offer in the coming months, but more importantly so you know that what I bring to the counselling space is genuine, and the depth of understanding I hold is considerable.

Some of you will recall that I was doing some early winter program planning in the fall. I was excited to be designing some new grief-support groups and workshops that I was so looking forward to sharing with you over the winter months.

Shortly before I began, our family had an out-of-town emergency and hospitalization. At the time we didn’t know of course what the outcomes would be and that it would eventually evolve into an ongoing elder-care situation that would require my travelling back and forth out of town now for four months.

This week, we are transitioning to long-term care as there will be no recovery in the way we’d hoped. The decline has been rapid and heavy to hold. We are carrying the grief of elderly parents forced into an unexpected and unwanted separation, alongside our own grief, and the anticipated goodbyes to come.

As some of you know, my only sibling died a number of years ago so I am on my own. Now, another level of ache, of yearning rises to the surface as the weight of this elder-care season falls solely on my shoulders, and my brother is not here to provide support, to share the challenges (and, honestly, much-needed laughter, eyerolls, and shared family jokes — the beautiful medicine he provided to me).

This is the start of a long road of care in two different cities, and an unexpected monumental downsizing which is already overwhelming to all of us in its size and scope, and a poignant reminder of how fleeting and unpredictable everything is. I could say more about end-of-life planning here but I will save that for another time. Suffice to say our family members now realize why I was attempting so earnestly to have these conversations, and why it was so important. Hard lessons.

Moving forward, my practice hours should remain unaffected and consistent with little adjustment as, thankfully, I was already practicing on an established part-time basis. However, plans for added grief support programming have been put on hold for the time being until my family has the opportunity to get grounded in this new reality, and into new routines and schedules. I will continue to share resources and other support offerings as usual.

As always, I am so grateful to all of you for your trust. It is an honour and a privilege to be walking alongside you, as both a compassionate guide, and kindred griever.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging season. 💛

~ Cheryl xo

01/10/2026

Looked out my office window at just the right moment this morning. Natural nervous system regulation. 🦌🤎

☺️