Honor the ones that you’ve lost.
Tip # 17 for the holiday season: Honor the ones that you’ve lost.
If you’ve lost a loved one, the holidays can be one of the most painful times of the year. With so much pressure to feel merry, it can be hard to know what to do with your grief. Giving yourself permission to feel your sadness is important. Find a way to do this that works for you. Perhaps you go for a few extra therapy sessions this month. Or, maybe you create a new tradition to honor the memory of your loved one, like lighting a special candle.
Here’s how the Calm team deals with grief over the holidays:
Jade: In my family, we try our best to talk about the family we have lost, through memories and stories, and that can feel really comforting. With recent grief, it’s always been important for me to let myself get upset, which can be at unpredictable times.
Henderson: Feeling sad or grieving is difficult during what most refer to as the most wonderful time of the year. We have special ornaments we place on our tree as well as a stocking we hang. It’s important to us that we remember on the holidays as we do every day.
Christi-an: I try to include my grief in the celebration. For example, I might say I’m so happy to be here with you and I’m also missing ... In our home, we make an extra little plate of food for someone dear to us that we have lost recently as a way to honor them. Als, I read this analogy often. it helps.
