[dropcap2 variation=”coffee”]T[/dropcap2]he holidays are here, and for many of us, they hurt.
This is the fourth and final video in our series on Beating Holiday Grief.
Here are the major points from the other videos:
Video #1: Grief makes holidays challenging, and expectations can add even more to your grief load.
Video #2: You can be proactive. You can choose – what you do, when, how, and with whom.
Video #3: You can meet grief head on, and plan specific ways to honor your loved one.
Today I would like to share with you that something that could make a huge impact in your holiday experience. I call it the Holiday Healing Secret.
Actually, it’s not a secret. In fact, it’s so simple you might even roll your eyes.
Use your grief to give thanks.
You can turn grief into thanksgiving. Gratitude helps heal broken hearts.
- Plan a specific time of thanksgiving focused on your loved one.
- Have a balloon release. Write messages to or about your loved one on balloons and then release them together.
- Write short messages of thanksgiving about your loved one, put them in a box, and wrap them. Open it with the other gifts and read them together.
Be creative. Make it personal.
Use your grief to help you heal. Practicing thanksgiving can be very powerful.
Here are three resources that can help further:
- I Miss You: A Holiday Survival Kit – a free e-book you can download any time.
- Surviving the Holidays Without You: Navigating Grief During Special Seasons – a practical book full of stories and encouraging content. Available in e-book and paperback.
- The Good Grief Mini-Course – a free email course to help you ride the roller coaster of grief.
Yes, your life has changed forever. These holidays might be difficult, but they can still be good.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
Question: How might you use thanksgiving to honor your loved one and help yourself grieve well?
Thank you Gary for the wonderful ideas to honor my Mother’s passing. I love the balloon idea and will use it at my Daughter’s home this Christmas with my Granddaughters. Cheryl Matthies
Hi Cheryl. You’re welcome. I hope these holidays for you have some thanksgiving mixed in that brings great meaning to your loss and grief. Hang in there.
Thank you Gary for the wonderful ideas to honor my Mother’s passing. I love the balloon idea and will use it at my Daughter’s home this Christmas with my Granddaughters. Cheryl Matthies
Hi Cheryl. You’re welcome. I hope these holidays for you have some thanksgiving mixed in that brings great meaning to your loss and grief. Hang in there.
Thank you for this series, Gary.
Hey Debbie. You bet. Hopefully it helps some!
Thank you for this series, Gary.
Hey Debbie. You bet. Hopefully it helps some!
I can only say, “thank you”.
Thanks, Gary
Hi Shirley. You are very welcome. It’s an honor to be able to walk with folks through this. Hope you are doing well.
I can only say, “thank you”.
Thanks, Gary
Hi Shirley. You are very welcome. It’s an honor to be able to walk with folks through this. Hope you are doing well.