Grief and the Holiday Season – 11/07

One sure way to comfort yourself, and make the holidays more satisfying, is to comfort someone else. For many of us, this time of year isn’t all about smiling faces, warm fuzzy feelings, or TV images of friends clinking glasses with cheer. If you know someone who is having a hard time lately, maybe it’s because they suffered some kind of a loss this year and this is their first Christmas since. Grieving isn’t always about death; there are many things that we develop a deep attachment to over the years, so eventually we have to face other losses that throw us for a loop — our health, our independence, a great job or house, a meaningful relationship, a pet or even a dream. Showing someone you know that you understand, and acknowledging their sadness, might help keep them afloat until the hoopla is over.