You were lost in thought and dropped a glass, shattering it all over the kitchen in a mess of sharp, jagged pieces.
You were folding the laundry and didn't hear the timer beep and burned the cookies.
You didn't have the energy to cook dinner, and ordered takeout...again.
You bought the outfits for the Christmas card photos, but you couldn't bring yourself to take the pictures without your loved one in them.
You had plans to see a friend for coffee, but you didn't feel up to it and had to cancel.
You woke up feeling sad, and spent your morning shower in tears.
You hear their favorite song in the grocery store, and weren't able to finish your shopping trip.
Whatever your experience was, it's okay. It's okay to have the feelings, to shed the tears, and to have to change your plans. Managing life after loss can be difficult for everyone in certain moments, and the holidays are definitely no exception.
No matter what happened, give yourself grace. Acknowledge that it's hard. Some moments or days are harder than others, and that's okay. Forgive yourself if you're feeling down on yourself. Speak to yourself with kindness as you would to a friend in your shoes. Accept yourself, even in the hard moments. Feeling your feelings is not a weakness.
Give yourself grace in holiday grief. There will be difficult, lonely moments, but there can also be moments of joy and hope. Surround yourself with as much grace and understanding as you can - even if you have to learn how to give yourself the grace.
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