Finding Peace During the Holidays for Those Who Are Grieving

Honoring Your Loss While Creating Space for Healing in the Holiday Season

The Winter Holidays can be the toughest of the year after a loss. Poignant moments spent with our loved ones during the Holidays can make loss incredibly challenging. The most important thing you can do is honor your healing process; only you know what that looks like. Whether it’s time spent with one or two special supporters, canceling too many plans, or opting out altogether, this is your journey. Take your time and be patient with yourself. There are many ways of honoring your loved one and yourself. Here are a few ideas: 

Ways to honor your loved one during the Holidays:

• Make their favorite recipe.

• Donate time or money in their name.

• Share favorite stories about them and ask others to share with you.

• Light a candle for them. 

• Write them a letter and share it with your family, if you are comfortable to do that.

• Create new traditions.

Ways to honor yourself as you heal:

• Be gentle with yourself and allow your emotions to come out. That includes smiles, laughter, and tears.

• Surround yourself with those who love and support you.

• Don’t allow social pressure to push you into signing up for something you don’t want to do.

• It’s OK to cancel plans when you need time to yourself.

• If you decide to skip the holidays altogether, take a trip, plan a movie marathon, or spend a day reading. No matter how you decide to experience the holidays, honor your feelings. 

No matter how you decide to spend the Holiday season, you are already a hero for making choices for a healthy and healing future. If you are planning a reading day or know someone working through grief after loss, pick up my book, Afterlife Bonds.

Tammy