The Longest Night

The solstice is tonight, the longest night of the year. What I like about the solstice is that it’s a quiet reminder that even the smallest bit of light counts. Tomorrow it’s only a few seconds lighter, but it still shifts. It still moves. Grief feels a lot like that to me. There are just these tiny little changes that you sometimes don’t even notice in your grief until much later. Things change. Healing changes. There’s something comforting about knowing we don’t have to do anything for the light to return. We don’t have to earn it or chase it. It just happens. And sometimes that’s enough for right now.

For those of you celebrating Christmas this week, I hope it meets you where you are, not where you feel you should be.

~ Robyn

Robyn Houston-Bean

Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation

MONTHLY CALENDAR

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THE WEEK AHEAD

Grandparents meeting this week as a makeup meeting on 12/22/25.

Carole Bowers facilitating for Kar-Kate Parenteau for the Spouses/Partners meeting on 12/23/25.

Lowell MA meeting cancelled for 12/23/25.

People in Recovery meeting cancelled for 12/24/25.

Brighton MA meeting cancelled for 12/25/25. Will meet 12/29/25 instead.

UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

Key to Amaze Virtual Reality Experience. Sunday 1/18/26 1:00 pm ET Kenmore Square Boston MA !!!!!!POSTPONED!!!!!!! More info to follow.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR

Director of Engagement, David Swindell took part in Dad’s Speak Week Live in Dorchester MA, presented by Mothers Against Drugs, Inc. MADMOMS. These fathers shared powerful stories of their healing journeys.

Thanks to the support team (pictured below) that made the Healing Holiday event happen in Salem MA! This was our first collaborative event with Essex County Outreach & Northshore Education Consortium!

OUR ANNUAL SUPPLY DRIVE

JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!

The January 2026 book choice is Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 1/11/26!

JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION

NEW DATE! CATHOLIC CHARITIES RETREAT

The Outreach Coordinator for Recovering Connections - Laboure Center asked that we share this retreat opportunity with with our members who are bereaved mothers. TSWR Facilitator Tracy Carter will be a speaker at this retreat. Questions or to register, please contact Jean Barrineau 617-464-8501 jean_barrineau@ccab.org

INTO LIGHT SURVEY

LAST CALL!: A quick ask from us! We recently shared info about the INTO LIGHT Project, an art exhibit that honors the lives of people who died due to substance use. Some people chose to participate and some didn’t. Both choices are valid. If you’re willing, we’d really appreciate your voice.

The team behind the project is trying to better understand what made it feel doable for some and not for others. So we created a short, anonymous survey for anyone who considered submitting but decided not to or who had not known about the project being in their state. There are no right answers and no names attached. Just honest feedback that may help make this project feel more accessible in the future.

The project is currently taking submissions now for the Hawaii, Wisconsin & Vermont Exhibits. They have done previous exhibits in AL, CA, CO, DE, FL, IA, MA, MD, NC, NH, OH, OK, PA, TX, UT & VA

HALO INITIATIVES: FAMILY OVERDOSE SUPPORT FUND

Boston Residents! If you are a BOSTON resident who has experienced the death of a family member to overdose within the last 2 years, you may be eligible for up to $5,000 in financial support. Apply here.