Gifts for People Who Are Grieving

Grief is something most of us will experience during our lives and yet it seems somewhat mysterious to us because we don’t talk about it enough in our society. If you know someone in the midst of grief right now it’s important to stay in touch and to show that person that you care and are there for them. Giving an appropriate gift for a special occasion is one way to reach out and show your love. Just remember that a grieving person may have difficulty expressing their gratitude in this moment so don’t take their response (or lack of one) personally. Here are some ideas for gifts that a grieving person may welcome:

The Grief Deck

Consisting of 60 illustrated cards created by various artists and grief workers, The Grief Deck offers prompts, activities and other resources for coping with grief.

The cards can be explored in any order and help people address anxiety, hold a vigil, or create a remembrance ritual as part of their journey through grief.

Book: It’s OK That You’re Not OK

This bestselling book by Megan Devine is about “Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand.”

Megan offers practical guidance for people who are grieving and also for the people who are trying to support them. This is the grief education that is sadly missing in our society. Pair it with the workbook mentioned below.

Journal for Grief

This Journal for Grief by Megan Devine is an excellent companion for the book above. It is filled with creative inspiration on topics such as self-care, on-the-spot practices for tough situations, finding meaning in loss, holding onto joy and sorrow at the same time, and “tear-and-share” resources for grievers and their support people. It may be most appropriate for people who are past the acute symptoms of recent loss and ready to begin processing their pain.

Man’s Guide to Healing Grief

We are learning that men and women tend to approach grief differently and it’s good to acknowledge that. Some men may respond better to books that are written specifically to address their grief experience. The Griefcase is one example of a book written with men in mind and might be helpful for your grieving person. Pair it with a Grief Journal for Men if they enjoy writing as an activity.

Book: What to do When I’m Gone

This illustrated book was created by Suzy Hopkins and Hallie Bateman, a mother-daughter team, and is filled with a mother’s wisdom to her daughter. It would be a good gift for a woman of any age whose mother has died, but is especially helpful for younger women. It contains both humor and heartbreak and might be very comforting to the person you know who is grieving.

Grief Coloring Book

This Grief Coloring Book is also a journal that can provide comfort, guidance and creative expression for those who are grieving. We know from studies that coloring is helpful for anxiety and stress and it is a good activity for grieving people too. Pair it with colored pencils and it makes a nice, inexpensive gift, either alone or as part of a gift basket.

Grief Yoga DVD

Yoga has been shown to be helpful for grief particularly when the teacher focuses the movements for grieving people. The Grief Yoga DVD is a helpful gift for a person who is already familiar with yoga or open to trying it as a form of somatic therapy, since the workouts can be done alone at home.

Guided Meditation for Grief

Meditation has been shown to be helpful for grief and this Guided Meditation by Belleruth Naparstek is a lovely way to encourage your grieving person to spend a little time in meditation each day. This meditation is available as an Audible Audiobook you can purchase as a gift. You might pair it with some nice noise-cancelling headphones.

Friendship Lamp

This friendship lamp is a pricey gift that is most suitable for a grieving person who is a close relative or friend that you want to stay in touch with. When you each own a lamp they connect to one another from anywhere in the world. Tap on your lamp to change colors and your friend’s lamp will change as well, letting them know that you are thinking of them. You can create a special color code to send messages of support any time of day.

Digital Picture Frame

This is also an expensive but very thoughtful gift for someone close to you. With a digital picture frame you can help your grieving person load photos of their loved one that have meaning or significance. The frame can be kept in the “grief corner” or altar to be used for contemplation and meditation rituals and as they journal about their memories.

Indoor Herb Garden

Gardening has been shown to be therapeutic for people who are dealing with grief and this indoor herb garden is a perfect way to encourage your special person to try a gardening practice. They don’t need to have a yard or even outdoor space in order to grow herbs and the kit comes with everything they’ll need to get started.

Desktop Zen Garden

For those without a “green thumb” this small Zen Garden provides an alternative activity that is relaxing and fosters mindfulness. It can be used as part of meditation or for creating a home ritual that helps process grief.

Memorial Candle

This lavender memorial candle can be used as part of a grief ritual. Pair it with a framed picture of their loved one to help them create a “grief corner” or altar in the home.

Wind Chimes

These wind chimes can be customized for the type of loss your grieving person has experienced. They can be placed near a window where the chiming sound will provide an audible reminder of their loved one.

Memorial Crystal

This memorial crystal can be placed in a sunny window where it will cast rainbows throughout the room as a sweet reminder of the loved one that has died. This gift could be part of the grief altar along with the candle (above ) and a framed picture.

Tea Assortment

Tea-drinking rituals are helpful for relaxation and mindfulness and this tea assortment would make a nice gift for a grieving loved one who enjoys tea. Pair it with a special tea cup and tea biscuits for an extra-special gift.

Essential Oils

Most people who are grieving have difficulty sleeping which leads to emotional and physical exhaustion. Essential oils can promote better sleep and aid in the grieving process as well. They also help with anxiety, stress and depression so choose a blend or individual oils that might be most helpful to your special person.

Mala Beads

Studies have shown that doing small activities with the hands, such as sliding mala beads on their string, can help alleviate anxiety and tension. Rosary beads can be use for the same purpose and either of them would be a good addition to a home altar or ” grief corner.”

Note: Some of the items in this guide include Amazon Affiliate and other links which earn a small commission.