B. McMasters, Grief Educator & Coach

01/13/2026

This piece grew out of personal reflection and from listening to people talk about how grief changes their relationships. It is written with deep respect for those who are grieving a death, and with equal care for the quieter losses that often follow. My hope is to offer language for experiences that are real but rarely named, and to hold space for the complexity that grief brings into our lives and relationships.

What I Hear From People Who Are Grieving As a grief educator and coach, I often hear from people who have experienced loss that their relationships feel different, that some connections have faded,…

01/08/2026

A couple of grief group participants under the weather and two more traveling. No problem. Let’s go hybrid tonight. Got to keep that support of one another going.

A new Journey Forward: A 12-Week Grief Support Group starts on March 4. I am starting the waiting list and space is limited. Reach out and/or share.

12/31/2025

You don’t have to leave your grief behind to welcome something new.
You don’t have to feel hopeful to allow a small moment of light.
And you don’t have to choose between remembering and moving forward.

Both can live side by side.
Both are part of loving deeply.
Both belong here.

If the new year feels heavy, that makes sense.
If the new year feels quietly hopeful, that’s okay too.
And if it’s a mix of everything, you’re doing it right.

Here’s to a new year that holds space for all of it.

12/22/2025

It's is okay to let joy in. We're not forgetting. We're not letting go.

If you know of a grieving child, the Dougy Center is a great resource any season.

Dougy December tip #11: Remind kids (and yourself) that it’s okay to laugh, play, and still have fun.
For more resources and support, go to www.dougy.org/resources.

12/21/2025

Today is the winter solstice, the turning point, a reminder that nothing stays still forever. Grief can feel like a season that never ends. But the solstice reminds us that even at its deepest point, the light is already beginning to return.

You may not feel it yet.
You may not see it.
But the shift has already happened.

Let the solstice be a gentle reminder of that quiet turning. Hold space for the dark, and trust that the light is on its way.

12/15/2025

Tonight I participated in The Compassionate Friends/USA Worldwide Candle Lighting. They invite anyone grieving a child, grandchild, or sibling to light a candle between 7:00 and 8:00 pm in their own time zone. The idea is to create a wave of light and love moving around the globe. It is a beautiful concept, and they share that it is the largest candle lighting ceremony in the world.

I was at home and lit a candle for my brother, Steve. He was a musician. He played the guitar and sang. He was even a member of the Old Time Fiddlers Association. So, I played music that reminded me of him. He has been gone for 34 years, and I still carry that grief. I always will. The grief is understandably much softer now. What I feel most is the beauty of his life, his legacy, and even the beauty in how his death shaped me into the person I am today.

Our local Compassionate Friends chapter (TCF Walla Walla) doesn't have a large enough group yet to host an in person candle lighting, but that is the hope. Maybe next year.

They meet once a month at the Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation. I am so grateful to be sharing space with them at the grief center and to see this community of support continuing to grow.

12/13/2025

The Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation is at 21% of their goal through the Valley Giving Guide's end-of-year giving program. The board of directors set a lofty goal to cover the overhead costs of the grief center for 2026.

Currently, three FREE grief groups (general loss, su***de loss, and child loss) are being held in the space and 3 more FREE groups are being added in early 2026 (senior spouse/partner loss, perinatal loss and anticipatory grief associated with dementia).

Please consider donating. Right now there is a match through 12/15.

I’m ready to support Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation on December 2, 2025 during Valley Giving Guide . Learn more about Blue Mountain Grief and Loss Foundation and all the other organizations participating in Valley Giving Guide .