Episode 16: Holiday Traditions and Memories

A heartfelt conversation about holiday traditions around the world and the personal memories that shape them. The hosts share stories of family, food, grief, and joy, reminding listeners that traditions don’t have to be perfect or old to matter—sometimes the smallest rituals bring the most light.

[00:00:00] Greg: Hello, and welcome back to another episode of the Support and Kindness podcast. My name is Greg, and I'm your host.

[00:00:06] Greg: Today's episode is Holiday Traditions and Memories. simple thought. You don't need a whole holiday to bring light. Sometimes it's one text, one meal, one song, or one shared laugh.

[00:00:19] Greg: Today we're talking about traditions, not just the picture perfect ones, the ones that we keep, the ones we change, and the ones that we start. Welcome back to the Support and Kindness podcast. I'm here with my co-host, Rich Jay and Derek. Thank you for being here.

[00:00:34] Greg: Holiday traditions around the world. They celebrate light stories and small rituals, and today we're looking at the light that we seek in the darkest months.

[00:00:44] Greg: The stories that would retell each year and the small rituals that keep us grounded. People around the world celebrate different holidays, but often for the same reasons. What is a tradition really? Tradition is something that people keep doing on purpose because it matters to [00:01:00] them. It can be a belief, a story.

[00:01:02] Greg: A meal, a song, a rule. a yearly routine even when life changes traditions connect us to the past, like a single thread. In the darkest time of year, humans have always looked for ways to say that we're still here, we're together.

[00:01:17] Greg: We're going to make it through long before modern Christmas. Many winter celebrations in Northern Europe were built around the winter solstice, fires, candles, and staying close to the warmth. One old tradition that still echoes today is the Yule log a special log burned during winter celebrations.

[00:01:36] Greg: In ancient Rome in mid-December, brought Saturnalia, I've probably pronounced that wrong, so I'm gonna excuse myself for my mis pronunciations that I will probably make on these celebrations.

[00:01:49] Greg: Saturnalia is a festival known for feasting. Gift giving, and even briefly, overturning social norms. During that celebration, [00:02:00] public businesses stopped and the homes were decorated. Masters and slaves swapped roles and slaves could speak freely wear their owners clothes and dine with them. Rules were relaxed, gambling was allowed.

[00:02:13] Greg: Late banquet and even witty jokes were common . Saturnalia honored Saturn with shared renewal and feasting before winter. People gave small gifts to strengthen bonds. It's customs later influenced European winter festivals adding joy, light, and hope for warmer days for Christians. Christmas sent us on the birth of Jesus and hope arriving quietly in the cold over time.

[00:02:39] Greg: Many winter customs blended together. Even the Christmas tree as a traditions evolved story is it spreads widely in the Eighteen hundreds. A famous image of Britain's royal family with a decorating tree helped popularize it. A quick world tour of white filled celebrations in Mexico. And central Europe

[00:02:57] Greg: Las Posadas runs from December the [00:03:00] 16th for the 24th, and it reenacted Mary and Joseph search for shelter. People often hold a procession, sing songs, and gather afterwards for food and community. In Sweden, there's Lucia Day. It's celebrated on the 13th of December with candle lip recessions. And you'll often see someone's dressed in white, bringing light into the darkest season.

[00:03:19] Greg: Plus saffron buns are a classic treat

[00:03:22] Greg: Hanukkah or the eight days of light. In the Jewish tradition, Hanukkah celebrated with a menorah lit over eight lights. Remembering the reduction of the second temple and the story of the oil lasting longer than expected.

[00:03:34] Greg: And then there's Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

[00:03:36] Greg: It's celebrated by many Hindus, Janes and Sikhs. It's widely understood as a celebration of light over darkness, often with lamps or dyers, home decorating sweets, fireworks in many places.

[00:03:50] Greg: And then there's Lunar New Year or red noise, and the legendary monster across China and many East and southeastern Asian communities.

[00:03:59] Greg: Lunar New [00:04:00] Year traditions include. Family reunion meals, red decorations and firecrackers. And one well-known legend is a monster named Nian said to fear loud noise, bright light in the color red, which helps explain why those are so common colors and celebrations and part of celebrations.

[00:04:16] Greg: Then there's new year traditions and luck rituals.

[00:04:19] Greg: In Scotland, there's a Hogmanay or first footing in Scotland. Hogmanay is the New Year's celebration where the first person to enter your home after midnight is believed to bring luck, and they often carry small symbolic gifts. in my house, we celebrated it my dad would go outside carrying a piece of bread and a piece of coal.

[00:04:39] Greg: Then he would walk into the house backwards, after midnight, and it was said to, had to be a tall, someone , tall, dark and handsome. And the coal represented fire for warmth and cooking the bread for food and the walking backwards bit was something to do with the. Bad spirits coming through the house and out the back door or something like that.

[00:04:58] Greg: So that was that celebration.

[00:05:00] Greg: In Spain, there's the 12 grapes. Many people eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve. One grape for each clock. Time symbolizing luck for the 12 months ahead

[00:05:10] Greg: In Chech Christmas customs, one tradition is an unmarried woman tosses a shoe and if the toe points towards the door, it's believed that a marriage could soon be coming.

[00:05:20] Greg: And then there's fire festivals and big, loud reminders, although it's not technically a Christmas or a New Year's tradition. But because I'm your host and because I'm British, I thought I slip it in anyway. And that's Bonfire Night

[00:05:32] Greg: in the uk. Bonfire night's held on November the fifth with bonfires and fireworks, and it's linked to the failed gunpowder plot in 1605, and the capture of Guy Fawkes.

[00:05:43] Greg: We also used to, as children, we would stuff an effigy of a guy and sit outside a local bar or a store and would say, penny for the guy. People would give us money. And then on bonfire night, November the fifth, we'd burning him on top of the fire.

[00:05:58] Greg: And speaking of burning in [00:06:00] Guatemala, the burning of the devil or La Quema del Diablo, burning of the devil takes place on December the seventh with bonfires and devil effigys is a symbolic cleansing before the next day's Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

[00:06:14] Greg: Holidays that remember loved ones in Mexico, the Día de los Muertos, and that's observed on November, the first and the second with home alters, marigolds, candles, food offerings, and remembrance, honoring loved ones who died

[00:06:29] Greg: in Japan. There's Obon as the Japanese tradition of honoring ancestral spirits, often involving grave visits, dances.

[00:06:38] Greg: And said to help guide the spirits dates vary by region and calendar.

[00:06:44] Greg: And then there's a spooky side of winter and monsters and mischief. A lot of places. Winter stories include scary characters, not just to frighten people, but to explain the darkness and remind communities about rule safety or behavior.

[00:06:58] Greg: There's Krampus on December the fifth, [00:07:00] the scary helper folklore

[00:07:02] Greg: in alpine folklore. Krampusnacht. Is associated with December the fifth, the night before St. Nicholas Day in parts of Europe where Krampus is a frightening figure tied to warning naughty children. And yes, Krampus even has greeting cards.

[00:07:19] Greg: The US Library of Congress notes that postcards were popular in parts of Europe in the late 18 hundreds into the 19 hundreds

[00:07:27] Greg: in Wales. There's Mari Lwyd. In parts of Wales, it's a winter tradition involving a decorated horse skull carried door to door with singing and a playful back and forth rhyming challenge before people get let Inside

[00:07:41] Greg: in Greek folklore Kallikantzaroi are, goblin like troublemakers, and they're said to appear around the Christmas season in traditional stories.

[00:07:51] Greg: And then there's delightfully strange and sometimes surprisingly modern.

[00:07:55] Greg: In Mexico, there's Oaxaca or night of the [00:08:00] radishes on December the 23rd,

[00:08:02] Greg: in Ozark City, Noche de Rábanos happens on December the 23rd where people carve oversized or radishes into detailed scenes for public display

[00:08:16] Greg: competition. It sounds a little bit like, Halloween, isn't it?

[00:08:19] Greg: And then Japan, KFC on Christmas. I've heard of this one

[00:08:22] Greg: In Japan, eating KFC at Christmas became popular through marketing with the Kentucky for Christmas campaign launched in 1974. On pre-orders are common. I've heard that they sell out

[00:08:34] Greg: as well

[00:08:35] Greg: in Venezuela, there's Caracas a roller skating to early church services. It's a tradition tied to the holidays before Christmas where people roller skate. Early morning church services often concluded to Christmas. Seasoned masses

[00:08:50] Greg: in Norway hiding of the brooms, which is folklore. some Norwegian folklore say that people hid brooms on Christmas Eve, so the witches couldn't steal them.

[00:08:59] Greg: [00:09:00] Dunno about that one.

[00:09:01] Greg: Then food of course, is heartbeat. Of any holiday memory, no matter where you're from, holiday food is rarely just food, it's history you can taste.

[00:09:11] Greg: One example is the Italian American Feast of Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve tie to the tradition of avoiding meat on certain religious vigils with seafood taking center stage,

[00:09:24] Greg: and then making tradition of your own without losing what matters.

[00:09:28] Greg: If you are creating new traditions, especially after hard holidays, start simple. Pick one small ritual that feels safe and meaningful. Focus on values like warmth, generosity, rest, faith, community, or remembrance. Use food, music as stories to help your heritage come alive and be more sustainable. When you can refuse gift wrap.

[00:09:53] Greg: Instead, use fabric, swap more stuff for shared experiences and choose local or [00:10:00] seasonal food when possible.

[00:10:01] Greg: So now we're gonna open it up for some real voices, real memories and real honesty.

[00:10:07] Greg: Rich Jay Derek, thank you for being here. Let's talk about the holiday traditions and memories and what they bring up for us both the good and the hard.

[00:10:17] Greg: This is where I ask each of you to share today. I'll ask each of my co-hosts to share what holiday tradition or moment, past or present still matters most and why. And then an individual question for each co-host.

[00:10:32] Greg: Rich, I'll start with you. What holiday tradition? Moment, past or present still matters to you the most and why?

[00:10:39] Greg: And what holiday memory still makes you smile years later?

[00:10:44] Rich: Thanks, Greg. the holiday tradition that, really has stuck out for me has been the gatherings with my father-in-law around Thanksgiving and his sister, around Christmas for the last 20 or 25 years that I've been doing with my [00:11:00] wife and our kids, they have been so consistent.

[00:11:03] Rich: There was a. Major event in my wife's family around Thanksgiving, in the late nineties that really brought the family together. they lost someone and, brought the family together and I was around, but I wasn't there for that. but I've been there ever since. And the.

[00:11:24] Rich: Importance. They place on joy in the holidays and just experiencing love and happiness and joy. There is no tension. There is no stress. There is no worry about who's gonna make what dish by what time or whose hot rolls will be done. It's the most stress-free loving. Thanksgiving and Christmas environments I've ever been a part of.

[00:11:57] Rich: And, yeah, they truly matter to me. [00:12:00] They've been incredible. and I've been able to see cousins and siblings grow up and start their own families, just. the steady love and gatherings of family making positive holiday memories. it's been an, it's been a well welcome change for my life over the last two decades.

[00:12:15] Rich: The, holiday memory that sticks out or makes me smile years later, this one's kind of silly. I had a grandma that made these delicious rolls when I was younger. they were known as Ruth's Rolls, grandma Ruth, and she made Ruth's rolls and she would make them for any special occasion. Had to be a special occasion, but she would make them for a special occasion.

[00:12:38] Rich: And when, if you really were on our good graces, it wasn't just Christmas or Easter or. Thanksgiving, but if you were on her good graces, you could get her to maybe make you some for your birthday too. so that was always fun, to try and be on your best behavior and the weeks leading up to your, birthday to get some extra roll for your [00:13:00] birthday.

[00:13:00] Rich: And, I just, I don't know, it's just a funny memory that I had, but I absolutely loved those roles. I've never had a dinner roll as. Tasty, as simple as small or, as delicious as that. It's, it's the happiness of my childhood wrapped up into Ruth's roll, right? There

[00:13:19] Greg: was that tradition passed? I think I want some Ruth's rolls.

[00:13:22] Greg: Was that was that passed down through your family? Do you make them, do your mom make, did your mom make them?

[00:13:26] Rich: No, I need to ask, I need to ask around and see if anybody has the recipe. I know that we've talked about trying it a couple of times because a lot of people of it, we've talked about it.

[00:13:37] Rich: but I don't know that anybody's ever, I don't know that we've succeeded or I, it was, she passed away right around when I suffered, TBI and I don't know if we tried to recreate them in the years after she passed and failed or not. I don't really remember. I don't want to bring [00:14:00] up sore memories for my family, but I would like to ask them.

[00:14:04] Greg: I think we would all like to try some  Ruth's rolls as well if you're successful. Thanks. Yeah, thanks. Thanks to such an honest and sincere share.

[00:14:11] Greg: Jay, pass it over to you. What holiday tradition or moment past or present still matters the most to you and why? And was there a holiday traditions from your childhood that felt especially personal or unique?

[00:14:26] Jay: Thank you, Greg. I'm happy to be here. Good to see everyone. I think that my questions go hand in hand. The memory that I have that's special to me was, when I was younger and my teenage years and stuff like that. I have a cousin, that would always meet me down at my grandparents' house.

[00:14:44] Jay: We had a small family, two brothers married two sisters, so there was only two families instead of four. And it would be me, my cousin, my aunt and uncle, my dad, my mom and my grandparents. And like Rich said, it was just the [00:15:00] most stress-free environment. We went down there and unwrapped presents had food.

[00:15:04] Jay: And that still is a very fond memory from my childhood that I that makes me smile for sure. On the same page is Rich again. There was a food tradition that my mom would make something called shrimp Dip. And it was cream cheese with shrimp inside, and then you'd put cocktail sauce on the top of it.

[00:15:26] Jay: And then my grandma would make something. And this sounds gross, but trust me, it's not. It's called corn pudding. And that was always a fantastic treat to have on the holidays. A lot of my family, my grandfather passed and now my grandma lives in an assisted living place. So it's not the same.

[00:15:44] Jay: The the whole family doesn't get together like they used to. But that's one of the best memories of my childhood for sure. This was also before, my parents divorced, things like that. So it was just some of the happiest times I can remember. And that's [00:16:00] it for me.

[00:16:00] Greg: Thanks, Jay. Did the corn pudding get passed down through the family?

[00:16:03] Jay: Yes. Yes. We still make corn pudding, but we still have shrimp dip my mom got the stuff to make it just a couple days ago.

[00:16:11]

[00:16:11] Greg: I'll skip the shrimp dip, but we've been talking about having a get together. I don't know if we're gonna make it before the New Year's now 'cause it's so close to Christmas, two days away. But certainly if not, then certainly I certainly hope in the first week or so of of the new year.

[00:16:23] Greg: But we'll be expecting some I'll be expecting corn pudding, but I can go without the shrimp dip though.

[00:16:29] Jay: Okay,

[00:16:30] Greg: we're expecting some corn pudding. So thanks Jay. Thank you for the share.

[00:16:34] Greg: Derek, I'll come to you. What holiday, traditional moment, past or present still matters the most to you and why?

[00:16:40] Greg: And what holiday food brings you comfort the moment that you taste it.

[00:16:46] Derek: Well, , thank you Greg. The first portion, what holiday tradition, past or present that still matters most to me would have to be in the past? I have memories of my days of [00:17:00] your, on Christmas Eve, we would drive to, we would drive two cities over to my maternal grandparents' place and we would just.

[00:17:11] Derek: Relax. All the adults had one beverage and then everyone was comfortable. We just listened to music. Wonderful classic rock and roll. There'd be a few hor d'oeuvres. Both my grandmother and my mom would attempt to make some appetizers. From the old world or my mom would not even, but her mom did.

[00:17:31] Derek: And so slightly traditional food, our take on it. Just relaxing, good tunes, good music, just having a relaxed, enjoyable time because we would celebrate Christmas Eve, which I always had more fun. With my mom's side. And then we would begrudgingly go to Pennsylvania to hang out with my dad's side. And it was just more traveling.

[00:17:52] Derek: We just went there out of obligatory like, Hey, my side of the family now. So there wasn't that much [00:18:00] it enjoyment of the moment. It was just, okay, now we have to go over here for a five hour round trip. Okay. And we just. I enjoyed the presence of the present with my mom's side, and we just made the most of it for what it was.

[00:18:17] Derek: There weren't any specific memories, but just that yearly tradition and that routine it's still heartwarming. I do miss it, but these things happen and I've grown accustomed to, actually, I haven't, I've grown accustomed to. Leaving it unexpected. I had, there's a new surprise every year now, and I don't, I still don't even know what this year's surprise is going to be, but that's okay.

[00:18:42] Derek: It'll be surprise that day.

[00:18:43] Derek: And then what holiday foods bring me joy or comfort?

[00:18:48] Derek: With my immediate, just my parents and I, our family, there has never really been a traditional meal with my mom's side. That portion stopped when Mila passed or my mom's mom [00:19:00] passed. It just is what we make of it, and just being grateful. Make it simple, make it more endearing. It just, we're grateful for being alive, period.

[00:19:08] Derek: So why stress each other out and why? have any great expectations that are unrealistic just in. Polite, positive, friendly manner. I have no expectations. So every moment is a pleasant surprise, and that's how we roll now, at least my father and I.

[00:19:22] Greg: Thanks Derek. You mentioned traditional foods.

[00:19:24] Greg: Were any of those like the Japanese, traditional KFC for Christmas, or was it more traditional old world foods?

[00:19:32] Derek: It wasn't modern day capitalist chic. No.

[00:19:35] Greg: I want to know what this old world food is. 'cause we've got Ruth's rolls, right? That I want to taste and there's a corn pudding.

[00:19:41] Greg: I want to know what you are gonna bring to the table.

[00:19:43] Derek: Honestly, I'll say this specifically generically which is a valid oxymoron. After World War ii, my mom's side, they pretty much cut all ties with Europe. They were just done with it. Yay. 1950 style suburbian [00:20:00] sprawl. Dietary. Yeah. My mom's mom made coral dip.

[00:20:03] Derek: Whoopy do. Ooh, it's coral dip. Ooh. 'cause of the color. But I think there was red onion or red peppers. Maybe a seafood, I don't know. But just quick, easy, suburban sprawl. post World War ii Suburban sprawl. Cuisine. Yeah. Although there were a few, like peanut butter cookies or vanilla kipples Polasinka, which is Cerebro Croatian.

[00:20:26] Derek: It's A Yugoslavian crepe, yay Polasinka. I could go into more, but those are only ones that are popping off the top of my head.

[00:20:32] Derek: Then there's American crap, like a Rice Krispies treat, whoopie, doo.

[00:20:36] Greg: I think we'd settle for any one of those three things, Derek.

[00:20:39] Greg: Okay. I talk too much and thank you.

[00:20:41]

[00:20:41] Derek: Not at all. Thank you for your share. I guess I should take a turn, right? What holiday traditional moment, past or present still matters the most to me and why? I don't get to practice it the way I would like to, but. In my house, we always had Christmas crackers and it's a very British thing.

[00:20:58] Derek: A Christmas cracker for the want [00:21:00] of a better way of describing it. It looks like an empty toilet paper roll that's decorated in crepe paper and it's twisted at the end. And in there, there's like a little strip that runs through it from the handle to the handle, and when you pull it, it makes a crack.

[00:21:17] Derek: That's where they call it a cracker, and it comes apart and inside there's a little paper holiday hat that's folded up into a tiny paper hat that folds out and then a little plastic gift. And we used to do that. We used to all get together at Christmas, our Christmas and New Year's, and we'd pull crackers.

[00:21:33] Derek: Everyone had to pull a cracker on the plates. There'd be a cracker and everyone had to pull a cracker with someone else. And put the paper hats on. That was really cool. And then for New Year's, we would put, a glass of sherry or really any Liquor for Santa to, keep him warm 'cause of the snow when he came down the chimney and all that.

[00:21:51] Derek: And we put a carrot down for the reindeer. And a minced pie for Father Christmas, Santa Claus as well.

[00:21:57] Derek: Is there a specific song that tells me it's [00:22:00] Christmas? It's got to be, the one by the Pogues and Kirsty McCall fairytale of New York. That tells me it's Christmas all the time. That, and do they know it's Christmas by feed the World Right as well.

[00:22:13] Derek: Alright, before we close we're gonna do a second round, and that's a round that we call what's on your heart this week?

[00:22:20] Derek: About one minute each. No pressure, no need to be polished, just to be honest. I'll go first. What's on my heart this week is Christmas. And just, looking forward to a new year and what the new year will bring for the podcast and the support groups.

[00:22:35] Derek: Rich, , one minute, what's on your heart this week?

[00:22:38]

[00:22:38] Rich: reach people and that we're hearing back from people. This podcast is starting to. Reach more and more people, and that's rewarding to me. But it's also, the whole point of doing it in the first place is to get a message out and some positive information and positive messaging out there.

[00:22:59] Rich: So that's [00:23:00] what I'm thankful for this week.

[00:23:01] Greg: Thanks, Rich. I appreciate that. Jay, what's on your heart this week?

[00:23:05] Jay: I'm a big Christmas fan. I miss the times when it used to feel more magical, like when you're a child or when you have children. But I always try and get myself in the Christmas spirit.

[00:23:15] Jay: I've been trying to watch Christmas movies to. Bring about that feeling. Listening to Christmas music on the way home from my grandma's today. My mom and I listened to quite a bit of Christmas music. Now of course, Christmas music didn't get old. I used to work in retail and they played it for two months straight.

[00:23:32] Jay: I mean after Thanksgiving, it was Christmas music, but luckily I don't have to deal with that anymore. So it always makes me feel good. I actually have a playlist I play at night. Around Christmas that are all old fashioned Christmas songs that helps me sleep. I'm grateful that I still have a family to celebrate Christmas with.

[00:23:53] Jay: My grandma is somebody that I always spend Christmas with and she is not [00:24:00] doing too well. So I'm very thankful for the time I have with my family. I think family is one of the most important things out there. I don't think family necessarily has to be blood. I consider you three guys family, i'm just happy to be around people that I love and people that love me. And happy holidays to everybody.

[00:24:20] Greg: Thanks, Jay. That's nice. Nice share. Derek, what's on your heart this week?

[00:24:23] Derek: Thank you. Just trying make things more simple with more of a clean slate. So with that being said, I think that yes, the winter solstice will be coming on the 21st tomorrow morning at 10:03 Eastern Standard time to be exact,

[00:24:41] Derek: but it's still gonna seem as dark for the next three days. So right around Christmas and afterward. It's gonna get coaler and that's fine, but each day will get a little bit brighter and I like the stillness of winter, at least in this portion of the world, to consolidate and gather my thoughts.

[00:24:59] Derek: [00:25:00] Granted I might have. About of seasonal affective disorder, which, Hmm. Oh, that kitschy anagram. Oh, sad. That's okay though. There's validity. I'm gonna try to focus on consolidating and just nurturing and hopefully something will blossom in the spring with what I, how I want the rest of my future to be.

[00:25:21] Derek: Just a lot of changes in these past six months, but. This is also going to be one of the last, one of the last, not the last, but one of the last holidays I'll have with my father. And he's my last living immediate blood family member. But no, Jay, you're absolutely correct. There are chosen family and sometimes the ones that you are genetically related to, that's pretty much it.

[00:25:44] Derek: You're not family, but. It's just, it's the relationship that you have. And I want to cherish that. And really, I have a positive yield from that and I've been having trouble with that. So I wanna not continue in that same trend, but just what have I learned? It's not, my past has [00:26:00] not been incorrect if I learned from it.

[00:26:02] Derek: So how do I blossom? How do I renew? How do I revive? But yeah, that's pretty much what I'm gonna do. And then both my father and I are very, we have erratic schedules and daily lives, but maybe that's why we get along so well. But we're gonna make the most of it and just live in each moment of the present to its absolute fullest.

[00:26:20] Derek: Because being alive is a freaking blessing. It really is just to be alive, period. That is gift enough. Celebration in that. thank you.

[00:26:29] Greg: Thanks, Derek make the most of every moment that you can. Thank you all three of you truly, thank you.

[00:26:36] Greg: Most people think the traditions have to be old to matter, but honestly, some of the most meaningful traditions are the ones that we start on a random Tuesday afternoon and they stick. So what are we building this season? Comfort connection. Laughter. Maybe even a little wonder before we go, I'd love to hear from you.

[00:26:56] Greg: What holiday traditions do you keep alive and [00:27:00] why? Have you created new ones that feel healthier or more you? Do you have a tradition that's fun, spooky, or totally unique? As we close, I just want to honor what we share today because the holiday memories can carry a lot. We talked about traditions at companies.

[00:27:15] Greg: Traditions have changed, and the way that this season can hold both warm and ache at the same time. If you're listening and you're feeling a little bit tender right now, I want to say this and I want you to hear it. Clearly. You're not wrong for how you feel. There's no right way to do the holidays.

[00:27:31] Greg: You're allowed to simplify. You are allowed to grieve you. You're allowed to protect your peace, and you're allowed to start again with something small and kind. Here's one small supportive action that you can try this week. Choose a general action that fits your real life. Go for a short walk, light the candle.

[00:27:50] Greg: Text one safe person, cook a meaningful meal, or step outside in the air for two minutes. Just that's all small counts and small is real. If [00:28:00] you want additional support, I've put a detailed list of national resources and support organizations in the show notes. With clickable notes and they're organized by category.

[00:28:09] Greg: Thank you for spending this time with us. If this episode helped, consider sharing it with someone who might need a little light, and if you can leave a rating or a review so that more people can help find the show, it really does help. One last reminder, this podcast is not medical advice. We're speaking from lived experience.

[00:28:27] Greg: If you need professional help, you deserve it, and you don't have to carry things along. Until next time, be gentle with yourself and if you can pass on a little kindness forward to other people. Thank you