When a person dies, we often hear people talk about all their good qualities. But what if your person could also be really difficult? Maybe they drove you crazy sometimes. Maybe there were things between you that never got resolved, and you’re still angry about them. Those feelings don’t just disappear because someone died. You can miss them so much and still wish some things had been different. When someone dies due to substance use, we may feel even more protective of how people remember them. We know the judgments people make, and we want them to know there was so much more to our person. But sometimes I think we put pressure on ourselves to only talk about the good. We’re allowed to be honest about our relationship, even the parts that are hard to talk about. It doesn’t mean we love them any less. Nick was stubborn and impulsive and we had more than one argument about his drug use. It made me so mad at him at times and I’m ok with remembering those parts to.
~Robyn
Robyn Houston-Bean
Founder, The Sun Will Rise Foundation
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MEETING CHANGES THIS WEEK
GRANDPARENTS group moved to Thursday for this week, with new permanent time change to 5:00 pm ET.
PEOPLE IN RECOVERY GLOUCESTER cancelled this month.
Louise Griffin now facilitating the third Tuesday MOM’s zoom group.
FACILITATOR RETREAT!
This weekend, our facilitators gathered at Rolling Ridge for time together and some much-needed rest. We shared ideas, remembered the people who brought us to this work and had space to care for ourselves. The weekend included Yoga with Hania, a celebration of a birthday, a special recovery date, games, crafting, laughter, remembrances, skill building, hikes through the fall foliage, brainstorming and holding space for a death anniversary. We’re grateful for the heart our facilitators bring to every group and for the chance to support them, too.
8 WEEK PEER GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP SIGN-UP
LAST CALL! We would love to have you join our new pilot 8 week peer grief support group in Braintree MA that starts 10/22/26. Register here!
UPCOMING TSWR & SADOD ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Two similar workshops, one in-person and one virtual, but presented by two different people!
When Grief Lives in the Body Saturday 10/24/26 1:30-3:00 pm Tufts Library Weymouth, MA Participants will explore the mind-body connection in grief and learn how to recognize the ways grief may be showing up physically. The workshop is presented by Julie Foster, a certified grief coach, grief educator and master’s level mental health counselor. Registration required. The event is free, with a $20 deposit returned when you attend. Please give at least 10 days’ notice if you need to cancel to receive your deposit back. If the deposit is a barrier, please reach out to Judy at judyannkelly@gmail.com. REGISTER HERE!
Peer Support Community Partners’s October Psychoeducation Virtual Workshop: When Grief Lives in the Body: Understanding the Physical Experience of Loss Tuesday, October 27th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm This workshop will explore the physical experience of grief. Together, we will explore how grief can affect the body, why physical symptoms may emerge after a loss, and how understanding these responses can help us approach ourselves with greater compassion. REGISTER 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. To take advantage of this special offer, make sure you select YES when asked if you live or work in Massachusetts. Non-MA residents, if cost is an issue, may use promo code SCHOLARSHIP to register for free.
NEW EVENT! Join us for a Portable Paint Party on Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 11 AM–1 PM at Stoneham MA Public Library! Artist Denise Feeney will guide us step by step as we create our own paintings. No experience needed, and all supplies are provided. Come spend a couple of hours creating alongside others who understand grief. The event is free, with a $20 deposit returned when you attend. Please give at least 10 days’ notice if you need to cancel to receive your deposit back. If the deposit is a barrier, please reach out to Judy at judyannkelly@gmail.com. Save your spot here!
Virtual Book Club starts back up in November!
2026–2027 Reading Selections
November 1, 2026
Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe
by Laura Lynne Jackson
December 6, 2026
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
by Barbara Robinson
January 3, 2027
The Last Things I’ll Remember
by Randi Schalet
February 7, 2027
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion
March 7, 2027
The Disappearance: A Memoir of Loss
by Geneviève Jurgensen
April 4, 2027
The Correspondent
by Virginia Evans
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS EVENTS
SOAR Natick is hosting a one-day retreat in Walpole MA. Please contact Theresa Reddish to register. TLReddish@aol.com
INTO LIGHT SUBMISSIONS
INTO LIGHT Project is accepting submissions in the following states now for Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories exhibitions in 2027.
INTO LIGHT Project is a national nonprofit working to change how people understand addiction, because stigma and misinformation cost lives. Our educational exhibition, Drug Addiction: Real People, Real Stories, pairs original graphite portraits with professionally written narratives about people who died from substance use disorder.
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.
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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Want to volunteer for The Sun Will Rise? Sign up here!
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“Please be happy. The sun will rise” ~Nick Bean