Camera Roll
How many photos are in your camera roll? I have so many now. They’re not perfect and they’re not meant for anyone else. They are for me. Grief taught me how limited the photos I had of Nick really were. I remember scrolling through them after he died and wishing there were hundreds more. Not huge moments but more ordinary, everyday times, even the messy and not perfect ones.
Now I take the all pictures because I know how much those images matter later. Pictures of peoples, places and things that catch my eye. They become a kind of memory bank, a way to hold onto what we loved and experienced. Photos can help us keep their life alive in our minds and hearts after their physical presence is gone and can help us cope with grief.
Read more: How Mindful Photography Helps With Grief by Breanne Cook
with care
~ Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
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THE WEEK AHEAD MEETING CHANGES
The Nathan’s Circle/West Barnstable meeting on 1/13/26 is moving from in-person to a Regular Zoom starting this month until April.
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Pebble Art Workshop Saturday 1/17/26 2:00-4:00pm Sharon MA REGISTER HERE! Have you ever wanted to learn how to create a picture using materials found directly off the beach? Come join local guest artist Kerry Consentino- Vilorio owner of The Orange Jellyfish, who creates beautiful custom pebble art and sea glass designs, for a fun and creative event. Ages 18+ Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier. If cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Questions? Contact Judy Kelly Judy judyannkelly@gmail.com 781-264-0557
SADOD’s January Psychoeducational Workshop. Tuesday, January 27, 2026 6:30-8:00pm ET. Tips for Navigating Grief in the New Year. Whether this is the first new year that you are going into since the loss of your loved one or whether you’ve done it before, starting a new year while grieving can be scary and overwhelming. This time of year is often viewed as a time for positive change and growth, but for individuals grieving it can bring unwanted change- a sense of getting further away from our deceased loved ones. This workshop will normalize and assuage these concerns while providing practical tools to take more ownership over this inevitable change.This workshop will take place virtually on Zoom. Learn more and register at bit.ly/new-years-grief. Please note this workshop has a $10 fee for individuals outside of Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents may attend this workshop for free due to funding from MA-BSAS by using promo code MASS at the time of registration. If cost is an issue, please contact Laura@sadod.org
Just Claying Around Painting Workshop 2/22/26 10:00 am-12:00 pm Bridgewater MA REGISTER HERE! Join The Sun Will Rise Foundation for a relaxed, low-key creative gathering focused on painting ceramic pieces. A selection of ceramics will be available to choose from. All materials are provided. Ages 18+ Cost: FREE but requires a $20 per person deposit that you will receive back at the event. If you sign up and do not attend the event without giving us 10 days notice, the deposit is not refundable. We do this to be able to continue to offer events at no cost to you. Thanks for your understanding. Please don’t let the deposit be a barrier. If cost is an issue, just let us know. We’re committed to making this event accessible to everyone. If you have any accessibility needs (physical or otherwise), please reach out. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported. Registration Required. Questions? Please contact Natalie Patricio: 774-955-7752 jeepgirl474@gmail.com
HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK AT TSWR
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Rich and Bernadette Giscoppo from Ricky Inc., for their generous donation of 100 Bombas socks that Rich dropped off to our office this week! Their organization started after the death of their son Ricky and continues on after the the death of their son Nicholas. This thoughtful gift to our supply drive for the unhoused will go directly to people who need comfort and warmth during incredibly hard moments. We’re deeply grateful not only for the donation itself, but for the ongoing collaboration and shared commitment we have to supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use. It truly means a lot to be in this work together.
Thanks to all have contributed to the drive so far! We have another couple weeks before this collection is over.
OUR ANNUAL SUPPLY DRIVE
HEALING THROUGH WONDER BOOK LAUNCH!
Many of you have watched or participated in our Healing Through Wonder Project with Val Walker. Or maybe you encountered Val at the grief conference or on one of ours or SADOD’s online workshops. We are so excited to announce that Val’s new book Healing Through Wonder, How Awe Restores Us After Trauma and Loss, launched this week! Please join us at a small book launch celebration. We will be giving way a signed book to some lucky attendees! Please RSVP here to let us know you will be attending.
JOIN OUR VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB!
The February 2026 book choice is The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss written by Mary-Frances O’Connor. We will have a facilitated discussion about it on 2/8/26!
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.
Do you know someone bereaved due to substance use related causes that would appreciate our weekly email? Have them sign up here for support!
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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean