3 Tips for Enjoying the Holidays, Even While Grieving
Originally published in Dr. Laura
The holidays are here. It’s a season of joy and celebration. It can also be a little crazy.
Black Friday has invaded Thanksgiving. The frantic hunt for perfect deals is underway. Holiday shopping has become a contact sport.
You can feel the tension amid bright lights and the tinkling bells. We’re impatient, hurried, even frantic. As the traffic increases, so does our blood pressure.
Holidays are also stressful for another reason. They surface our losses like nothing else can. We’re keenly aware of who’s missing.
We have loved ones who can’t be with us this year. Some have died. Others are still here but no longer remember. Some are chronically ill. Some are alone in ways they’ve never have been before.
As a hospice chaplain and grief counselor, I see a lot of holiday grief. Many are hurting and wondering how they are going to navigate this time emotionally. If that’s you, here are three tips to help you stay sane this holiday season.
