How Grief Stole Christmas

I don’t know how we got here so quickly, but it’s officially December, and we’re knee-deep in the holidays. While the holidays are a time for celebrating and festive feelings, for most, it’s impossible to think of the holidays without missing someone. This time of year can remind us of people who aren’t in our lives any more and those who have passed away and it can be daunting to try to balance Christmas cheer with the emotions that accompany crippling grief.

SO, I thought this was the perfect time for us to talk to grief advocate Marisa Renee Lee.

But let me preface this by saying...This episode is definitely not just for someone who’s in the midst of their own grief, it's JUST as much for those of us who love someone going through it. We always want so desperately to say or do the right thing by them, but it’s easy to feel that anything we might say or do falls short. And in this episode, Marisa gives us concrete advice on how to comfort a friend, as well as what not to do.

Marisa Renee Lee is a called-upon grief advocate, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of "Grief is Love: Living with Loss." If you ask me, I think this book should be read by absolutely everyone.

Dubbed "the friend we all wish we had in times of need", Marisa uses research-based wisdom to help us navigate the complicated and dark emotions we face when experiencing loss.

In addition to her work in the grief space, Lee is a former appointee in the Obama White House and CEO of Beacon Advisors, a mission-driven consulting firm primarily focused on racial equity, former managing director of My Brother's Keeper Alliance; co-founder of the digital platform Supportal; and founder of The Pink Agenda, a national organization dedicated to raising money for breast cancer care, research, and awareness.

In this episode Marisa explains:

• What different flavors of grief actually feel like
• How to support a grieving friend and, most importantly, what NOT to say/do…
• Anticipatory grief
• Why you should continue the relationship with a person who has passed - how to do it
• The differences between grieving someone who died unexpectedly/suddenly and someone dying from a long illness

Check out Marisa’s book here.

Download this episode of Tell Me About It with Jade Iovine wherever you get your podcasts! And to continue the conversation DM me: https://www.instagram.com/jadeiovine/

Executive Producer Nick Stumpf

Produced by Catherine Law

Edited and Engineered by Brandon Dickert

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