MEEKER | I remember the first Christmas my sister wasn’t with us. I remember the beautiful way she decorated her house each year and the fun our families shared—Christmas tree hunts, games nights, shared memories of our parents and good times on the farm in Minnesota where we grew up. There were so many things that reminded me of her, especially during the holidays. Quite frankly, I wasn’t prepared to deal with all the emotions I experienced throughout the season. This will be the eighth Christmas without my sister and thankfully, through HopeWest, I’ve found other ways to honor my sister during this time of celebration.
For those experiencing grief, the holidays can be a difficult time of the year. You may feel angry when you see others celebrating or you may feel deep sadness when finding a gift that would have been perfect for the loved one who has passed.
Our HopeWest adult bereavement counselors shared a few tips to make handling the holidays a little easier:
– Embrace emotions: This may allow you to better address these feelings and with time, the pain will ease.
– Recognize the holidays will be different: The best thing you can do is remember you have the right to celebrate the holidays differently.
– Prioritize self-care: Taking time for yourself is especially important in stressful situations. Schedule time alone and be ready to take a “time out” when you need a break. Listen to music, pamper yourself, take a walk, write in a journal or just sit quietly reminiscing about your loved one.
– Honor your loved one: Consider ways to honor the memory of your loved one during holiday celebrations. Prepare your loved one’s favorite meal and share it with friends and family, visit the cemetery or another special place, or consider donating to a local charity in your loved one’s memory.
If you’re finding that you could use some support through this time, or you know someone who could, HopeWest offers comprehensive grief support services to anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
Join us for a free Handling the Holidays grief group session on Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. at the VFW building located at 290 Fourth St., on the corner of Main and Fourth streets. You will learn different ways to cope with grief during the holiday season and about the other bereavement groups HopeWest offers.
For more information call 970-878-9383 or visit HopeWestCO.org.
By SOLVEIG OLSON | Hopewest Meeker Program Director
