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In the first episode of a four-part series on holiday grief, I discuss estrangement and its impact during the holiday season.

Estrangement, a form of alienation within families, can arise from conflicts over values or unresolved trauma and affects relationships between parents, children, grandparents, siblings, and even extended family members. It often stems from disputes over values, lifestyles, past trauma, or unresolved issues.

The holiday season is typically seen as a time for joy and togetherness with loved ones. However, for those experiencing estrangement, it can heighten feelings of loneliness and guilt. Societal pressure to maintain traditions doesn't help when your familial bonds are strained or broken.

I offered several strategies to manage these challenges and share some of my journey. I hope to show healing is possible beyond inherited narratives.

I encourage you to explore the truths about family stories passed down through generations. Reconciliation might be an option worth considering if circumstances allow it. Remember, there’s communal support available as we navigate this path together. Please share this episode with anyone who could benefit from our discussion on grief throughout the holiday series.

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NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you are struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, free resources are available HERE.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:

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• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

Send Victoria a text message!

In this heartfelt episode of Grieving Voices, Chris Cochran shares the inspiring legacy of his late son Christian, who faced terminal cancer with remarkable positivity and resilience. Despite his illness, Christian lived life to its fullest up until his untimely death at the young age of 23—all while asking, "What's good about today?"

Christian's spirit continues to inspire through Chris's nonprofit, What's Good About Today?, and the book that bears the same name. Today's episode highlights how Chris and his wife navigated the highs and lows of working diligently to get Christian the best possible care while supporting their other children. They then grappled with the profound loss of Christian, emphasizing patience, love, and being present as crucial elements in healing.

Key takeaways include acknowledging that each person's experience of grief is unique; fostering an environment rich in understanding and compassion can aid healing amidst life's unpredictability. Chris’s story also underscores a shift from material pursuits toward deeper spiritual connections post-loss—focusing on empathy over goals.

Chris recounts how he's felt Christian’s presence following his death and how the ongoing relationship with his son has supported his healing.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that even amid tragedy, there is potential for enduring hope through community support, and living purposefully driven lives filled with kindness ensures loved ones’ legacies endure.

RESOURCES:

• What's Good About Today?

CONNECT:

• Website
• IG
• FB
• LinkedIn

_______

NEED HELP?

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 support via text message. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a trained Crisis Counselor

If you are struggling with grief due to any of the 40+ losses, free resources are available HERE.

CONNECT WITH VICTORIA:

• Instagram
• Website
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.

Send Victoria a text message!

Helen Gretchen Jones, a death doula and intuitive channeler, shares her inspiring journey into shared death experiences and spiritual consciousness. With a rich background in art history, theology, sound therapy, Reiki, hypnosis, and past-life regressions, Helen now dedicates herself to supporting the dying and those they love in life and after death.

The innate gift of connecting with those who have crossed over has profoundly shaped her understanding of life and death, despite those around her not nurturing her gifts when she was younger.

Helen's personal experience with grief began when she foresaw her father's passing months before it happened—a vision that propelled her mission to help others find closure before dying. As a death doula influenced by such personal loss, she emphasizes the importance of addressing unresolved issues for smoother transitions at life's end. Her stories illustrate how healing through vulnerability supports forgiveness and transformation.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust Personal Experiences: Embrace signs as validations from spirit teams.
• Open Dialogue About Death: Encourage authentic communication even amidst difficult conversations.
• Healing Power in Vulnerability: Allow raw emotions to foster collective healing.
• Community Support Matters: Initiatives like No One Dies Alone (NODA) highlight crucial human connections at the end of life.

This episode weaves together insights about grief’s somatic manifestations alongside practical advice for processing loss—including meditation practices—and explores how openness can transform entrenched narratives hindering healing journeys.

This episode invites listeners to keep an open mind and heart and allow curiosity beyond skepticism to take root so that healing can occur, which is often experienced unexpectedly and in the most delightful ways. The universe (and our guides) have our backs and are waiting for us to co-create with them!

RESOURCES:

• Book | Healing Whispers from Spirit Guides
• N.O.D.A (No One Dies Alone Foundation)
• Ep. 40 Chris Kerr | Death is But a Dream: End of Life Experiences
• Netflix Docuseries | Surviving Death
• Helping Parents Heal

CONNECT:

• Website

Support the show

This episode is sponsored by Do Grief Differently™️, my twelve-week, one-on-one, in-person/online program for grievers who have suffered any type of loss to feel better. Click here to learn new tools, grief education, and the only evidence-based method for moving beyond the pain of grief.

Would you like to join the mission of Grieving Voices in normalizing grief and supporting hurting hearts everywhere? Become a supporter of the show HERE.