For some, the beginning of a new year can be a good time to make changes in life. A new year brings the possibility of a fresh start. Many people commit to new fitness or dietary goals or reassess their career direction. In January, estate agents report a surge of properties coming onto the market as people decide to change their living arrangements.

On a smaller scale, I like to take stock of my bookshelves, kitchen cupboards and wardrobe. There is something therapeutic about reorganising our personal space and clearing out things that are surplus to requirements. It feels good to donate clothes and books to charity shops, knowing that someone else can benefit from things we no longer need, whilst also making money for worthy causes. This form of recycling is also good for the planet.

For those who are bereaved, a new year is often not a cause for celebration but a reminder that the future must be faced without their loved one. For some, this fear can be quite overwhelming.

At our bereavement groups, we like to remind participants that they still have a future (even though it might look very different to what they had planned). None of us know the future or what good times may lie ahead.

We also remind our participants that they are still individuals of worth (even without their loved one) and that they are still important - friends, family, and colleagues still need them.

No matter our circumstances, we all have something to offer. We each have a unique set of skills, characteristics and abilities that are needed in the world.

Most importantly, we all need to be reminded that we are not alone. Everyone is part of a community, whether that be a family, friendship group, neighbourhood, church, workplace, or hobby club. At the most basic level, we are all part of the human race and have a part to play in making the world a better place.

I’ll finish with a little story. Whilst looking at the comments beneath an Instagram post about mental health, a doctor had commented that he was losing hope and didn’t feel his life had a point anymore. I encouraged him to keep going and told him I believed he had a unique combination of skills and abilities that no one else had. I reminded him that the world needed what he had to give. He replied with ‘Thank you, I really needed to hear this today.’

We don’t know what difficult situations someone else might be facing, but we can all do a little something that might make a big difference- a smile, a helping hand, a kind word, or an act of generosity.

If you would like some support with your bereavement, call Rosedale on 01379 640810 to reserve your free place on our next course.