There is nothing like a handwritten card to tell someone you are thinking about them. In a world of emails and text messages, the act of choosing a card, putting pen to paper and taking a trip to the post box is enough to let them know they are in your thoughts.
With loved ones on our minds more than ever at this time of year, everyone has different ways of making sure that those who are no longer with us remain part of our Christmas rituals and traditions.
While it may feel painful to remember a loved one following a bereavement, there is also comfort to be found in the endless possibilities of remembering, the places it can take you, the feelings it can evoke, and with always the tantalising possibility that a time long forgotten will resurface like a delicious gift.
We are all living through challenging times, but the one thing many of us do have more of right now is time. Why not use these long winter evenings to create, make and do things that will make a real difference to our lives?
Facing Christmas when you're grieving a loved one is always going to be hard and this year, with comforting hugs and hand-holding out of bounds, it may feel more lonely than ever. To help navigate the most difficult time of year, we asked Jo Williams from GriefChat for her advice on how to cope at Christmas.
