Surviving the Holidays

The holidays are a time of joy, celebration, and family. But when you are grieving, they can be a nightmare. What was once familiar and comforting may suddenly feel overwhelming, lonely or difficult to navigate.

Sometimes grief doesn't feel like sadness. Sometimes it feels like being completely lost.

You wake up and the world looks familiar, but somehow nothing feels the same.

When the holidays feel different

Grief has a way of changing how we experience the world, and the holidays can bring those changes into sharp focus.

There is no right or wrong way to experience the holidays after a loss. You don't have to recreate the celebrations of previous years or meet other people's expectations.

Give yourself permission to do things differently.

You can decline invitations, leave gatherings early or spend the holidays quietly. You can keep some traditions and let others go. Create a new tradition, light a candle in someone's memory, prepare their favourite meal or simply take time to remember.

Most importantly, be gentle with yourself. Grief doesn't follow a calendar, and there is no timeline for feeling better. Some days will be easier than others, and that's okay.

You don't have to navigate grief alone.

This festive season I'm offering a free drop in grief group at my office on 31 Main Street, Warkworth. Every Saturday at 12pm we will gather to share, support and hold each other through this holiday season. On November 28th we are so lucky to be joined by the incredible Amanda Meunier for a workshop on Hope for the Holidays.

The workshop and drop in group sessions are free, but please reach out if you need an in-person or online session.