Supporting the Bereaved: How To Holiday Cards

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The holidays can be stressful in the best of circumstances. When you are bereaved, the holiday season can feel unbearable. 

If you care about someone who is grieving, there are many small things you can do to help. There are small changes we can make in our day to day life that can help our bereaved loved ones feel less alone and understood. 

A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white and pink text. The main message at the top reads, "The final months of the year can be a series of landmines for the bereaved." The words "landmines" and "bereaved" are slightly emphasized. Below, three stick-figure characters each hold speech bubbles with different seasonal stressors: A blonde-haired person on the left says, "So many holidays!" A curly-haired person on the right says, "Seasonal shifts" A central figure at the bottom holds a large speech bubble that reads, "Social Gatherings" The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text and illustration style are casual and handwritten, giving the image a personal and empathetic feel.
A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white and pink text. The main message at the top reads, "And on top of that, there may be an onslaught of mail..." followed by "Cards celebrating holidays, family, new beginnings, growth, another year." The word "Life." is written in large, emphasized white letters at the bottom. To the right, there is a simple drawing of an overflowing mailbox with various letters and cards sticking out. The mailbox is wrapped in string of holiday lights. The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text and illustration style are casual and handwritten, giving the image a personal and thoughtful tone.
A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white and pink text. The main message at the top reads, "If you are sending cards this year - there is a small thing you can do that can be incredibly meaningful." The word "Meaningful" is emphasized with a slightly larger and more decorative font. In the center, there is a mock holiday card featuring a family photo with "Happy Holidays" and "The De Los Santos Family" written underneath, along with a small decorative "2024" banner at the top. The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text and illustration style are casual and handwritten, giving the image a personal, heartfelt feel.
A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white and red text. The main message at the top reads, "Somewhere on your card, add a little note." In the center, there is a mock holiday card featuring a family photo with "Happy Holidays" and "The De Los Santos Family" written underneath. Red arrows point to different areas of the card with suggestions for where to add a note: "here" (pointing to a blank space above the family name) "or here" (pointing to the top margin near the "Happy Holidays" text) "or on the back" (suggesting adding a note on the back of the card) "Or on the envelope" (pointing to a small drawing of an envelope) The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text and illustration style are casual, handwritten, and slightly uneven, creating a personal and thoughtful feel.
A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white, red, and black text. The main message at the top reads, "The note can be almost anything - but it should acknowledge their pain." Below, the word "Examples:" is written in a playful, larger font. Several example messages are listed in different colors and styles: "We remember & miss Robert" (in red) "Sending extra love" (in red, with a flowing script) "Instead of 'Happy Holidays' pretend this card says 'F* this year!'"** (in red, casual and slightly humorous) "I know this year has been awful. I'm thinking of you." (in red, with a gentle, empathetic tone) The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text is slightly uneven, giving it a personal, handwritten feel. The overall design is simple and meant to provide comfort and support ideas for grief acknowledgment.
A hand-drawn digital illustration with a muted green background and handwritten white and red text. The message reads, "Good grief support can feel daunting—but remember that good grief support does not mean fix their grief. Good grief support is acknowledging, listening, remembering, and showing up." Below, in a slightly different font, it says, "Small gestures matter." In red, a parenthetical note adds, "(like adding a little note to your holiday card)." The bottom right corner includes "@hereforyou.co" in small handwriting. The text has a slightly uneven, handwritten feel, and the overall design is simple, with a supportive and comforting tone.
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