The first year of the new decade has brought on fear, frustrations, confusion, and distress. For many people, it meant losing loved ones during the Covid crisis. Numerous people were trying to get creative for celebratory events. Others struggled with having funerals through technology. State orders to comply with physical distance has increase feelings of isolation and loneliness as our support system diminishes.
I hear and feel your intense sorrows at handling sudden grief challenges. The anticipation of the holidays is approaching swiftly. Are you facing your first holiday after losing your loved ones? I understand the first holiday season will be unfamiliar. However, allow me to support your emotions with some helpful tips to process grief through the holidays.
Here are three life-saving ideas during your first grief holiday.
Acknowledge Your Emotional Wounds
Your mental and emotional well-being is too important to neglect. In the past, I would avoid holidays and ignore my emotional wounds. I felt it was a burden to others. Let’s make this clear. YOU ARE NOT OVERBURDENING anyone. It possible most people may not understand or provide support during your grief journeys.
Take this first year to avoid any holiday gatherings as a way to navigate your grief journeys. You journal your emotions to recognize where you are during the holidays. If you can withstand to form a community, make the initial contact to connect with a grief group that shares your experiences. Participation in a grief group may be beneficial in case you have that overburdened feeling. Becoming emotionally aware of your emotions is not a sign of weakness. It’s a strength you gain to admit your grief journey.
Mental Health Spa Day
Practice daily self-care routines. To improve your mood, go for long walks in nature. Have conversations with birds. Observe the rivers streaming and visualize healthy discussions with the waterfalls. Engaging with nature is freeing to connect with the natural ecosystem. Get into a healthy mental state.
Pamper yourself with getting a Mani/Pedi, massage, or a new hairstyle. Self-care is necessary to elevate the mood. You will look and feel better. Having mental health day works wonders for your mind, body, and soul.
Embrace Good Memories
It can be emotionally draining when suddenly familiar holiday traditions with your loved ones have vanished. Not an easy task to fill in the first holidays without the whole family traditions. For me, it was one hell of a stressful time of the year to create a new way of celebrating the holidays. I Google how to spend the first holidays without the presence of your loved ones. The one that stood out for me was, adopting good memories of my family. In the past, I made Christmas breakfast for my parents.
My mother had a moment to relax before the preparation of a gourmet Christmas feast. Ooh, how I missed mommy’s homemade Christmas dinners. My mother always appreciates the fabulous Christmas breakfast meal. I whipped up some spicy omelets with sausages, rye toast, and hazelnut coffee. My father was not into spicy foods. I was like, are you kidding me, dad? We are Caribbean souls. We are supposed to love spice in our foods. I gave him something better, almond biscotti with coffee. LOL
Get creative in keeping the memory strong and alive. Be mindful of how to handle the holidays. You are the boss now. Set sincere intentions for the holidays.
Creative Journeys
There is high value in maintaining more big-hearted holiday traditions whenever possible; there are times when it won’t be possible. The first holidays may be a shock, but you are the boss on celebrating or don’t bother to celebrate at all. You get to choose what will work for you.
I wanted to share some steps that may encourage you through your grief journeys. Obtaining the right kind of support is the most reasonable step in accepting and discussing your loss during the grieving process. Mental Health Spa day can be your resort in doing self-care and heal through your emotions.
Hopefully, all these steps will give you some value in continuing smaller rituals, which may be easier to continue.
We are sending all our genuine spirits to get through the holidays. Hopefully, find a little delight and gratitude along the way.
