Putting up the Christmas tree without them here to help decorate might feel lonely.
Drinking hot cocoa and wrapping presents without them might be isolating.
Watching their favorite holiday movie
may feel less festive.
Though these traditions can hold a sense of closeness as we honor our passed loved ones in their favorite things, it can also bring a sense of something or someone missing.
Gathering your loved ones near to make it through these moments is important, but so is creating new traditions. Maybe this year you try a new recipe to bring a new dish to your holiday gathering. Maybe you make a new holiday project or ornament each year, or start volunteering during the holiday season, or decorate for someone who is not able to themselves. Regardless of what you pick, creating new traditions can add value to your holiday. This can reshape our grief into hope for things to look forward to, give us positive things to focus on, or even just distract us for a moment to be able to enjoy a few minutes despite our heavy grief. No matter what you decide, your grief is not forgotten.
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