The holidays can feel heavy when you're caring for aging parents or dealing with loss. In this episode, hosts Suzie Lind and Roy Clary sit down with Dianne, a caregiver navigating her husband's dementia while carrying decades of holiday grief after losing her son at Christmas. Dianne shares how she learned to seek contentment instead of happiness, why she dyed her hair purple for her granddaughter's cancer battle and how her family's simple tradition of drawing names during the season of giving lifted an enormous burden. From throwing poinsettias off the porch to finding support groups at the local library, this conversation offers permission to grieve what was while creating space for what can be. Whether you're in the thick of caregiving or facing your first holiday without a loved one, you'll find practical wisdom and unexpected hope for making the season meaningful again.
When Traditions Feel Intrusive - 01:28
Meeting Dianne: Purple Hair and Spunk - 05:50
The Day He Retired Without Warning - 09:55
Finding Support Groups - 13:08
Losing Andy at Christmas - 14:35
Drawing Names: A Game-Changing Tradition - 19:52
The Purple Hair Promise - 23:17
Staying Present in Depressing Circumstances - 26:06
Art as Distraction and Healing - 31:18
From Host to Queen - 33:14
Resources:
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Leave questions about aging, caregiving, or family dynamics
Brookdale Senior Living
https://www.brookdale.com
