Gratifest – a Holiday for Scam Victims – Without Judgment and Stress
A Holiday for Scam Survivors to Celebrate Without Judgment
Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery
Intended Audience: Scam Victims-Survivors / Family & Friends
Author:
• Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
About This Article
Gratifest is a holiday created for scam victims who find traditional celebrations overwhelming, allowing them to reclaim the season in a way that feels safe and healing. Unlike stressful gatherings where intrusive questions and judgment can make recovery harder, Gratifest is a day of gratitude, self-care, and support from trusted loved ones.
Celebrated on the weekend closest to June 15, it blends the warmth of Thanksgiving, the joy of Christmas, and the love of Valentine’s Day into a unique festival of resilience. With no rigid traditions, participants can decorate freely, share comforting meals, and focus on their personal progress, free from external pressure.
Gratifest: A Holiday for Scam Victims to Celebrate Without Judgment
For many scam victims, traditional holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Valentine’s Day can be more stressful than joyful. Family gatherings that are supposed to be filled with warmth and connection can instead become interrogations—where well-meaning but often judgmental relatives ask intrusive questions about the scam, your mental health, and your financial situation. Some may offer unsolicited advice, while others may subtly (or not-so-subtly) blame you for what happened. Even if their intentions are good, these conversations can be exhausting, painful, and triggering.
That’s why we’ve created ‘Gratifest’—a holiday designed specifically for scam victims who want to celebrate the season in a way that feels safe, comfortable, and healing. Gratifest is your chance to take back the holiday season, free from prying questions and judgment. It’s a time to reflect on what truly matters—your resilience, your health, and the people who have supported you through your recovery.
What? Gratifest?
‘Gratifest’ combines:
- Grati (from gratitude, representing Thanksgiving and appreciation),
- Fest (short for festival, symbolizing the joy and togetherness of Christmas and Valentine’s Day).
Gratifest would be a holiday centered around gratitude, love, and generosity—a time to share meals with loved ones, exchange heartfelt gifts or acts of kindness, and reflect on what truly matters in life. It blends the warmth of Thanksgiving, the magic of Christmas, and the romance of Valentine’s Day into one unified celebration.
Celebrate ‘Gratifest’ on the Weekend of (closest to) June 15th. That would be June 14-15 2025.
How to Celebrate Gratifest
Gratifest is about joy, gratitude, and simplicity. There are no rigid traditions—just a chance to celebrate on your terms, with the people who truly make you feel safe and valued.
- Decorate in Your Own Way – Pull out all of your Christmas decorations if you want, but instead of a tree, decorate something unique—like a palm tree, a bookshelf, or even a potted plant in your living room. The idea is to break from traditional expectations and make this holiday completely yours.
- Choose Your Guests Wisely – Only invite people you feel completely comfortable with—whether that’s a close friend, a sibling, a trusted partner, or just yourself. Gratifest is not about obligation; it’s about surrounding yourself with those who bring you peace.
- Share a Meal That Brings You Comfort – Whether it’s a traditional turkey dinner, a simple home-cooked meal, or even takeout from your favorite restaurant, Gratifest is about enjoying food without the stress of large family gatherings.
- Express Gratitude for Your Progress – Instead of rehashing painful memories or being forced to explain your trauma, use this day to reflect on how far you’ve come. Celebrate the fact that you are still here, still healing, and still moving forward.
- Give a Gift of Kindness – Unlike traditional holidays that often focus on extravagant gift-giving, Gratifest is about small, meaningful gestures—whether that’s writing a heartfelt note to yourself or a loved one, making a donation, or simply taking time to rest and recharge.
Why Gratifest Matters
Surviving a scam is an emotional battle that many people don’t fully understand. It’s hard enough to recover without the added stress of holiday gatherings where people demand explanations or offer opinions that only deepen your pain. Gratifest is a way to reclaim the holiday season on your own terms—no guilt, no expectations, no pressure to justify your past.
This holiday is about where you are now—not where others think you should be. It’s a day for gratitude, self-care, and surrounding yourself with love in a way that feels right for you.
So, if traditional holidays feel overwhelming, celebrate Gratifest instead. Decorate that palm tree, share a meal with people who truly support you, and take a deep breath knowing that this holiday belongs to you.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS Resources:
- Getting Started: ScamVictimsSupport.org
- FREE enrollment in the SCARS Institute training programs for scam victims SCARSeducation.org
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Learn more about the Psychology of Scams and Scam Victims: ScamPsychology.org
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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