Tips for Making the Most of the Holidays After the Death of a Loved One
Talking about loss during the holiday season may seem misplaced. The wintertime holidays are intended to be a time to celebrate. The reality is that, as the holidays approach, countless people face the season after the loss of a loved one. Another fact is that no one is immune from the prospect of entering the holiday season mourning the loss of an important person, be that a family member or friend.
Understanding these realities, there are strategies you can and should employ if you will be celebrating the wintertime holidays whilst in the midst of dealing with the death of a loved one. While the pain of loss will only dissipate in time, you can utilizes tactics to make the holiday season more meaningful, and even enjoyable, in the aftermath of a loss.
People Grieve Differently
When addressing the loss of a loved one and the holidays, you must keep in mind that everyone grieves differently. There are individuals who lose someone they care deeply about who seem to be able to rebound from grief rather quickly. On the other hand, some individuals spend a good deal more time working through the grieving process. There is not right or wrong way to grieve or mourn the loss of a loved one.
Understanding this fact, do not increase your heartache by chastising yourself because you are still deep in the grieving process. On the other hand, don’t feel guilty, or even shame yourself, because you have struggled through the grief process rather quickly and look forward to celebrating the holiday season.
Take Proactive Approach to the Holidays
A possible impact of the death of a loved one is that your holiday traditions may forever be chanced. This particularly is the case if a family member has passed on.
You can better take on the holiday season by taking a proactive approach to celebrating. You may want to examine the holiday traditions you’ve enjoyed through the years, that included your deceased loved one. Perhaps you will want to make some changes to those traditions. On the other hand, you may want to spend at least one holiday season following the traditions you followed while your loved was living. The key is to be proactive about these decisions and not to stumble into the holiday season, and then flounder around.
Do Something for Your Loved One
Merely because your loved one has passed on doesn’t mean that you cannot do something real, something tangible, to make his or her memory a meaningful part of the holiday season. Many people do things like make donations to an organization that was important to the loved one during his or her lifetime.
One simple strategy you can employ is to purchase a large, beautiful seasonal candle, on that is designed to burn for an extended period of time. Yes, these can be surprisingly costly at some stores. However, you can find bargains online and in discount stores in the brick and mortar world.
Dedicate not the candle itself, but the flame from the wax, to the life and memory of your loved one. Light the candle, and keep it glowing, throughout the holiday season. The candle can be used in so many different ways during the holiday season, including as a centerpiece for a special holiday meal.
Establish Realistic Holiday Goals that Work for You
Perhaps while your loved one was alive, you were a holiday celebrating whirlwind. You bakes. You decorated. You sent out greeting cards. You entertained. But, you must understand, you do not have to do these things to celebrate the holiday season.
In order to make the most of the holiday season after the loss of a loved one, set reasonable, realistic expectations for yourself. If you don’t want to bake, don’t do it. The same holds true for any of the things that you historically did during the holiday season.
Tend to Your Needs
You need to appreciate that the grief process is more than dealing with the emotional response to the loss of a loved one. Rather, grieving is a spiritual and physical process as well.
By their very nature, the wintertime holidays can leave a person with less sleep, eating poorly, and so forth. If you are dealing with grief as you enter the holiday season, pay attention to tending to your own important needs.
Get an appropriate amount of sleep. Eat the myriad of holiday goodies, but focus on consuming healthy foods as well. Focus on your spiritual and emotional needs, and not just on making sure those around you are having a happy holiday season.
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Jessica Kane is a writer for Silver Superstore, home of the internet’s best flatware.
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