The Holiday season is one of the most exciting times everyone looks forward to all year. It is the period of the year where we show our love and appreciation for friends and family the most, and reunite with our loved ones from far places. But as joyful and wonderful as this season gets, as dreadful and lonesome it is for those who have experienced loss. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, loss of a job, or even loss of relationships.

Through Creating Better Days webinar on Coping with Holiday Grief, Forest Lake hopes to hold space for those who are suffering from loss and be their support system during this difficult time. This is the company’s way of helping the bereaved on their journey towards meaningful and productive lives after their loss.In this webinar held last December 14 on an exclusive Zoom webinar, ZarahHernaez and Dr. Cristina Saldivar, mental health experts, talked about the different ways a person can cope with the holiday blues and grief.

Grieving is not a one-size fits all process. Everyone has different timelines and ways to cope, and that’s okay. What’s important is that you take your time to heal. “There is no timeline in mourning or grieving. You don't have to pressure yourself or allow others to pressure you to move forward in the grieving process,'' says one of the resource speakers and Mental Health Coach, ZarahHernaez.

Loss is a topic everyone wants to avoid. It’s always painful and difficult to talk about. Not to mention, it is also a hefty mental load to carry for an already tired mind and body, dealing with the pandemic. Now that the year is coming to an end and Christmas celebrations are just right around the corner, how can we begin to cope with holiday grief?

For some, the holidays only magnify the feeling of loss. “It may be isolating to be feeling grief while surrounded by people who are celebrating, and enjoying themselves.” says Dr. Christina Saldivar, a registered guidance counselor & psychologist. But what we can do to curb this feeling is to think of the holidays as a great way to celebrate those we lost. This is a time to talk with the family and remember the lives of the departed. Think about what they brought to our lives, or even do something simple like cooking their favorite holiday meal. By including them into the celebration, we remember the good times and the memories we shared while they were still around.

Liz Layog-Lorenzo, the general manager for memorial services of Forest Lake, mentioned that “The reason for the season is love. Include them in how we celebrate the season. It’s not only celebrating those who are with us, but honoring also those who have gone before us.” And taking that first step during the holidays can take us to better days that are healthy, productive, and most of all– healing.

Watch the replay of How To Cope With Holiday Grief via this link.

For 24 years, Forest Lake has been providing efficiently designed and family-friendly memorial parks in the Philippines, spanning Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Their signature personalized service and nature-themed parks boasting wide open spaces with vast manicured lawns conducive to leisure and relaxation have established Forest Lake as one of the Philippines’ leading and preferred memorial parks where family memories are celebrated by the living.

As the largest memorial care brand in the Philippines with over 30 memorial parks nationwide, the company aims to be A Better Place where the memories of our loved ones are celebrated and immortalized while consistently expanding the business to serve more Filipinos. Click here to find a Forest Lake park near you.

Forest Lake Memorial Parks is headquartered at the third floor of Alexcy One Building, 51 President’s Avenue, 1718, Parañaque City. For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://forestlakememorialparks.com. You can also like and follow Forest Lake on Facebook @ForestLakeMemorialParks and Instagram @forestlakememorialparks.