B. McMasters, Grief Educator & Coach

12/22/2025

It's is okay to let joy in. We're not forgetting. We're not letting go.

If you know of a grieving child, the Dougy Center is a great resource any season.

Dougy December tip #11: Remind kids (and yourself) that it’s okay to laugh, play, and still have fun.
For more resources and support, go to www.dougy.org/resources.

12/21/2025

Today is the winter solstice, the turning point, a reminder that nothing stays still forever. Grief can feel like a season that never ends. But the solstice reminds us that even at its deepest point, the light is already beginning to return.

You may not feel it yet.
You may not see it.
But the shift has already happened.

Let the solstice be a gentle reminder of that quiet turning. Hold space for the dark, and trust that the light is on its way.

12/15/2025

Tonight I participated in The Compassionate Friends/USA Worldwide Candle Lighting. They invite anyone grieving a child, grandchild, or sibling to light a candle between 7:00 and 8:00 pm in their own time zone. The idea is to create a wave of light and love moving around the globe. It is a beautiful concept, and they share that it is the largest candle lighting ceremony in the world.

I was at home and lit a candle for my brother, Steve. He was a musician. He played the guitar and sang. He was even a member of the Old Time Fiddlers Association. So, I played music that reminded me of him. He has been gone for 34 years, and I still carry that grief. I always will. The grief is understandably much softer now. What I feel most is the beauty of his life, his legacy, and even the beauty in how his death shaped me into the person I am today.

Our local Compassionate Friends chapter (TCF Walla Walla) doesn't have a large enough group yet to host an in person candle lighting, but that is the hope. Maybe next year.

They meet once a month at the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation. I am so grateful to be sharing space with them at the grief center and to see this community of support continuing to grow.

12/13/2025

The Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation is at 21% of their goal through the Valley Giving Guide's end-of-year giving program. The board of directors set a lofty goal to cover the overhead costs of the grief center for 2026.

Currently, three FREE grief groups (general loss, su***de loss, and child loss) are being held in the space and 3 more FREE groups are being added in early 2026 (senior spouse/partner loss, perinatal loss and anticipatory grief associated with dementia).

Please consider donating. Right now there is a match through 12/15.

I’m ready to support Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation on December 2, 2025 during Valley Giving Guide . Learn more about Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation and all the other organizations participating in Valley Giving Guide .

12/08/2025

This is what I share with my clients...

Many people believe that giving attention to their grief means they are being self-involved or taking too much space. Turning inward is not selfish. It is an act of courage. Healing requires acknowledging your own pain and tending to it with care.

If you value this community support, please consider donating to the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation through the Valley Giving Guide, December 2–31.
https://www.valleygivingguide.org/organizations/blue-mountain-grief-and-loss-foundation

12/08/2025

This is a great opportunity to learn from experts how we can navigate the emotional weight of the holiday season and create space for compassion and connection– at home, at work, and beyond.

David Kessler Empathy

Join a heartfelt conversation on how grief appears across generations—and how compassion, connection, and understanding can ease the holiday season.

12/07/2025

This is what I share with my clients...

The goal is not to stop grieving. It is to learn to carry the grief with compassion. Healing is not forgetting. It is adapting, integrating, and continuing the bond in a different way.

To help us continue offering grief support in our community, please donate to the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation through the Valley Giving Guide, December 2 through 31.
https://www.valleygivingguide.org/organizations/blue-mountain-grief-and-loss-foundation

12/06/2025

This is what I share with my clients...

We mourn not only the person who died, but also the future we imagined with them. Part of healing is learning to step into a future that looks different than the one you hoped for, all while carrying their love with you. Moving forward does not mean leaving them behind. It means allowing their presence to live within you as you continue your life.

12/05/2025

This is what I share with my clients...

Tears are a natural and healthy part of grief. They relieve the pressure inside us, speak for what cannot be spoken, and communicate our needs.

If you believe in the importance of this work, please consider donating to the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation through the Valley Giving Guide, December 2 through 31.
https://www.valleygivingguide.org/organizations/blue-mountain-grief-and-loss-foundation

12/04/2025

This is what I share with my clients...

We cannot outrun grief. Healing comes when we gather the courage to face the pain instead of fleeing from it. Each small step towards your grief is an act of bravery, a choice to keep moving forward with what you carry.

Help us continue this work by donating to the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation through the Valley Giving Guide, December 2 through 31.
https://www.valleygivingguide.org/organizations/blue-mountain-grief-and-loss-foundation