#Holiday Grief

[harperroseanderson]

Christmas has been kind of rough this year, and I wasn't feeling so great tonight... and then my cat started trying to steal my Chex mix.

So.... Now I feel slightly less depressed, and the cat has been appeased after managing to grab one piece of Chex.

What's the takeaway here? Well, first of all, I think we can all agree that cats are hilariously relentless when it comes to their crimes against humanity. Second - if this season has been rough for you, too, there will always be one or two things in life to keep you going, pushing you forward to better days.

Dare we hope? Are we betraying ourselves when the outlook for the coming year is not a bright one? Dare I say - yes. Not because of whether or not we we deserve it, but because of a promise established long ago:

"Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78‭-‬79 (NLT)

When all else fails, I still cling to the truth of the first Christmas. Also - I love my sweet, snack-stealing cat.

May you feel God's peace and comfort, even if the thought of it seems impossible.

[rebirtht0earth]

i am feeling the ache of holiday grief admist my warm cozy decorations and peaceful jazz. thinking a hot cocoa and drive around admiring Christmas lights may soothe it for now. reminding myself of the joy and wonder and goodness of this season and the goal to bring that warmth and cheer to everyone around me. there is so much i can do to honor my lost loved ones, especially this time of year. i want to be extra giving and loving and present and make as many moments of this season special for as many people as i can.

let me be proof of the good of the season and the joy of the holidays. let me make someone's holiday special and memorable. let me create joy and tradition and wonder. let me bring magic to my nieces and nephews and all the kids i come across and let me be a sign that a little extra kindness goes a long way

[zee-man-chatter]

One of the most poignant and succinct combination of words and graphics I have ever seen. With a few words and a picture, this accomplishes what hours of counseling might do. I lost my wife and father in 2023, so this Christmas has been a bit subdued, but I think there is hope still in the present and future.

[abbybabbybobabby]

I want to go to all you can eat sushi, eat like a linebacker, and pass out on the way home

[destinytalks]

For anyone spending the holiday season quietly, more alone than not, and are struggling with that: I am your new cousin, auntie, best friend, and we are now spending the holidays together in this collective space of the internet. Tell me about your days! Show me pictures of your holiday shenanigans! We'll be merry together and no one has to be alone for the holidays. ❤️

[destinymoore05]

Feeling a bit like Charlie Brown this year. I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday, I love when everyone is all happy and excited about the season. I’m still happy and I’m very excited, but the holiday grief is in my way.

Earlier this year, my niece who I am very close with since we were little kids, was wrongfully taken away by the CPS system. (She’s not dead, I can’t physically hang out with her because of the circumstances) Spending the holidays without the person I’ve been so close to my whole life, feels like something I must grieve, a part of myself is missing this time of year, and I’m less optimistic this year. It hurts. The grief hurts. Yes I can call her on the phone, but it isn’t the same. It will never be the same as seeing her and physically hanging out with her. Despite all odds and my grief this holiday season, my time in the Austin fandom has kept me sane. Austin has kept me sane and smiling despite my holiday grief. But at the end of the day, it still hurts very much and all I want for Christmas this year, is for my niece to come home, and for her to get justice for what she went through. I don’t wish this on anyone.

Thanks for coming with me on this venting journey, this will probably be the only time I’m gonna vent about my niece on here. 🩷

[fibermancer92]

They say that grief doesn't shrink

Rather, you grow around it

But that sounds so linear.

Holidays make us feel like a child again

Our old homes and traditions

Family.

No one told me

They would make me shrink down

To the child shaped grief in my core

Shriveling like the shrink wrap my Mother used to cover the gift baskets she made.

All the growth

And air

Forced from my body by the heat of

Cornbread fresh from the oven.

Tiny, again

With no strong arms to lift me

And I still can't touch the ceiling on my own.

-Grief, November 2023

[authorlakisha]

Holiday Grief

Grief will make you curse and hate the holidays. Grief will have you contemplating staying in bed. Grief will make you feel guilty about enjoying the holidays, you love. Grief – a deep feeling of sorrow. Grief is heavy enough on its own without you adding anything to it. Instead, think about your loved ones who are no longer here. How did they spend the holidays? Truly think about it. How…

[avalon-princesss]

[sofflysteel]

They go. They go. They are no longer here in their body but your own body can’t stop feeling them, their “being”. They have gone, they rest in the ground or in an urn or maybe scattered to the wind but you keep screaming for them. Where are you, why why why can’t you be here???

Welcome to grief, who now takes its place as your companion.

[braylee]

Christmas didn’t Christmas like it normally does. It didn’t feel magical, or exciting. It was like any other day. Holiday grief sucks. I lowkey felt like a spectator and was dissociated.

Also growing up is soooo sad.

[tracychamberlainhigginbotham]

(via Remembering Special People in Gladness not Sadness this Season)

[gracies-dreams]

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒏, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒈𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒘 𖹭

[abbybabbybobabby]

Grief alert 🚨

I cry every time i hold a baby or look at my uncle you really never think about the things that will make you want to kys after your dad dies I guess

[unmooredteengirl]

Just texted my deceased fathers old phone number

[shardofazem]

The grief is real...

I go quickly from my first birthday without momma, to the first thanksgiving without her and her husband - my step-dad - who is recovering from a major heartattack and triple bypass surgery in North Dakota after going up there after his dad died a week after mom... to the first Christmas and New Year without her.

It's such a hard thing to grasp. I think cause I'm still living in her house. Where she lived. Where she died. I still come home sometimes excited by a funny story about my nieces wanting to tell her about it and I get to the door and it's like 'dumbass you forgot...'.

I'm trying to hold myself together for everyone else. But damn..is it hard.