Several years ago, I hit a point where the bitterness of my holiday grief kept eclipsing every bit of seasonal sweetness. So I tried something new: I offered to match complete strangers across the country who wanted to exchange a small gift or card with someone who gets it.

Nine years later, the Modern Loss Gift Swaps have paired more than 3,000 people who used their agency to create a little fresh meaning—and a lot of “I feel seen-ness”—during a season that can be both tough and twinkly.

Our Winter Holiday Gift Swap signup is officially open. I hope you’ll consider joining my favorite yearly ritual — and participation is also completely free for annual subscribers! Form is open through 11/26.