As we prepare to close the door on 2025 and step into a new year, I find myself thinking of the many families we have had the honour of walking alongside who are entering 2026 without someone they deeply love.
A new year can feel complicated when you’re grieving. While the world speaks of fresh starts and new beginnings, your heart may still be learning how to breathe in a life that feels forever changed. And that’s okay. There is no timeline for grief, and there is no rulebook for how to carry love forward.
Moving into a new year—or even a new decade—does not mean leaving your loved one behind. It means learning how to hold them differently. Love does not end when life changes; it simply takes on a new form.
Through my years working in funeral service and in mental health, I’ve come to understand that grief lives not just in our thoughts, but in our bodies and hearts. When we experience loss, our nervous system often stays on high alert, holding tension, sorrow, and fatigue. This is why gentle emotional regulation is so important, especially during transitions like the New Year.
Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is pause…
Place a hand on our heart…
Take a slow breath…
And remind ourselves that it’s okay to feel what we feel.
At HeartMath, we speak often about heart coherence—bringing the mind and heart into a more balanced rhythm. In grief, this doesn’t mean “fixing” the pain. It means offering yourself compassion, steadiness, and moments of calm amidst the waves. Even a few intentional breaths can help settle the heart when memories feel overwhelming.
Moving forward does not mean forgetting. It may look like continuing a tradition, speaking your loved one’s name, honouring anniversaries, or creating new rituals that carry their spirit into the future. It may also mean allowing yourself moments of joy without guilt, because love and grief can coexist.
We often remind families that healing is not about “moving on.” It is about moving with. With memories. With love. With the values and lessons your loved one gave you. Their presence remains woven into who you are becoming.
As we enter 2026, I invite you to be gentle with yourself. Allow space for reflection, for rest, and for hope at your own pace. If the new year feels heavy, that’s okay. If it feels lighter than expected, that’s okay too.
You are not forgetting by living.
You are honouring love by continuing.
It is truly a privilege to walk alongside families during their most tender moments. Please know that you are not alone, and that your heart knows the way forward, one breath at a time.
May the year ahead bring you moments of peace, comfort, and quiet strength.
Until next time, with compassionate care, wishing you peace and warmth.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
For over 35 years, Lauri-Anne Canzanese has dedicated her life to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of others as a HeartMath-certified coach, MBSR coach, and a mental health and addictions coach. She's a Funeral Director Assistant at Carson Funeral Homes.