When someone I love experiences the death of a close friend or family member, I always wish I could be there in person to give them a hug, wipe away their tears, and offer them support. If they live close by, I usually make a visit. But, if they are far away, my only options are to offer them emotional support from a distance and/or send something.
In some cases, I send flowers or a donation to the charity of their choice. However, sometimes I feel like sending something more meaningful. In the past, I have created grief baskets that I hand delivered to the bereaved and I have also mailed grief gifts. Here are some of the items I have sent or plan to send in the future. All of these items are from Amazon, so they can likely be mailed directly to the recipient at little or no cost!
*As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn for qualifying purchases.*
- Angel Catcher Grief Journal: This beautiful grief journal gives a space to process feelings and find hope along their journey on their own timeline. I also really like the kids’ version of the book for
helping children grieve. https://amzn.to/40FWrDI - David’s Cookies: Looking for a gift that everyone will love? Leave it to David’s Cookies! They have more than fresh baked cookies including brownies, crumb cakes, cakes, cheesecakes, frozen cookie dough, and gluten-free treats! Give them to someone you love, which can be yourself, obviously! https://amzn.to/3WB6o3Y
- Barefoot Dreams: My niece first introduced me to this brand after she fell in love with a pair of shorts in Florida. She begged, mom said no, luckily Auntie remembered the store name and had them shipped for her birthday! I love their blankets, SO cozy! https://amzn.to/4gIwaLH
- Harney and Sons Tea: Are you a tea drinker? Many folks are unsure of their taste/distaste for tea because they haven’t tried it. If that’s the case, starting with delicious Harney and Sons is the way to go! Drinking tea is a relaxing ritual that can invite calmness into the day. My personal favorite is their Hot Cinnamon Spice: https://amzn.to/4i0BfzD
- Nee Doh: These fidget toys are a fun sensory experience for kids and adults. They come in various shapes and sizes and are a squishy cool way to de-stress! https://amzn.to/4j9f6jF
- Grief in Color: Many people find adult coloring to be relaxing and therapeutic. Because grieving a loss can be overwhelming, sometimes having something simple and straightforward is best. This coloring book offers prompts for journaling feelings and emotions along with beautiful images to color. Pair with colored pencils/thin markers for a thoughtful gift: https://amzn.to/4kp1v8w
- Tony’s Chocolonely They make ridiculously good fairly traded chocolate bars. My personal favorite is the Milk Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt. The variety packs, bundles, and pouches are perfection! https://amzn.to/4fGRHmA
- Art Therapy Workbooks/Journals: These workbooks and journals were created by an art therapist, and she has included many activities, and journal prompts from her experiences working with clients as they process emotions throughout their healing journeys. The “Art Therapy for Grief and Loss”
along with some colored pencils/thin markers would be a thoughtful gift for someone who has recently lost a loved one: https://amzn.to/43npCy6 - Capri Blue: I love their Volcano designer candles, car diffusers, room sprays, Pura cartridges, body care, etc. I am also here for their Pineapple Flower products! https://amzn.to/4aCWILV
- Willow Tree Figurines: I’m normally not really a fan of tchotchkes, but these always seem to just be so thoughtfully designed. Their angels are a sweet way to acknowledge a special occasion, offer comfort, and give a little love. Also, we have the Willow Tree nativity set and it is so lovely! https://amzn.to/3QFkwG5
Responding to someone who is grieving can be difficult. It’s hard to know what to do and what to say. While I was in the process of writing this list, one of my best friends unexpectedly lost her mother. This list gave me a starting point for mailing a grief gift to her and her family. Hopefully it will come in handy someday if/when you need to love on your people. Also, if you are dealing with unprocessed grief, please consider purchasing some of these resources and/or seeking help to begin healing your heart. ❤️