Saturday Morning Message: Warm Wishes for the New Year

Good Morning,

As we come to the beginning of 2018, it might be interesting to think about treating yourself since the passing season might have been very stressful especially for those who are grieving. In the article from the winter 2015 TAPS magazine, there is an article titled “Seven Strategies for the New Year” written by Brad Stetson. In it he encourages some activities that might be a help to comfort yourself. The article contains more of his thoughts on each item. 

Brad Stetson’s List

1. Write yourself a comforting and encouraging letter.

2. Buy a big calendar, and use it.

3. Move your body, move your mind.

4. Realize that you do not need to "understand" your grief right now.

5. Decide that in the New Year, you will begin to focus a bit more on others, as a part of your loved one's legacy.

6. Listen to the music.

7. Wishing you well.

So next week’s message will center around the ideas  that you might have to treat yourself. We all look forward to reading some of the ideas next week from those who respond. 

The Saturday Morning Message was created so survivors can share questions and read how others respond. By sharing coping strategies, together we become stronger. I am always looking for questions for future messages. 

You never know how your words may touch the heart of another. I encourage you to reply to the Saturday Morning Message by emailing online@taps.org. I directly receive all responses that are sent to this address. In order to have your reply included in the week’s Saturday Morning Message, it is best to send it to me by Tuesday of the following week. This week's question is located below my signature. 

Hugs,
Carol 

Question for Next Week’s Saturday Morning Message 

This week the question connects to the article about strategies to treat yourself at the start of the new year, so the question is: What are your plans to treat yourself in the new year?

 ♫ Song for the Week 

Andy, father of Danny, came up witha great idea about putting the songs that have been submitted to the Saturday Morning Message on a playlist on Spotify. Spotify is an online music service that gives you access to all kinds of music. You will have to register to access free songs and the TAPS playlist. The TAPS playlist is called “Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Songs of Love and Remembrance.” I thought the Song of the Week section would be a good place to put this list this week. If you have a song that is special to you or reminds you of your loved one, please send it along with a sentence or two about what makes this song distinctive so it can be used for a future Saturday Morning Message.