The holiday season is known as a time of love, joy, and family but what if you’re missing someone special during the holidays?
Your loved one’s absence may feel especially heavy during the holiday season. More family time and special events can be a stark reminder that someone special isn’t there.
Their absence may cause you to dread the holiday season. You may feel anxious or overwhelmed by the upcoming holidays, family time, and events. It may be hard to get through the holidays or enjoy them when the absence of your loved one weighs so heavily on your mind and heart.
There is no right or wrong way to grieve and the grieving process may last a lifetime. Some days or months are easier than others but there will be times that you may feel overwhelmed with grief, even if it’s been years since your loved one has passed. The holiday season can be such a time.
One way to express your grief in a healthy way is honoring your loved one during the holiday season. This is a small way to acknowledge the love and loss felt during this time. Instead of forcing those sad feelings down or avoiding bringing up your loved one, it can be incredibly healing to acknowledge this huge loss.
Here are just a few ways you can honor your loved one this holiday season.
Ways to Honor a Loved One During the Holiday Season:
- Donate in their name
- Donate to their favorite charity or cause
- Adopt a family in their name
- Create a memorial ornament
- Leave a designated seat for them at the dinner table
- Hang a stocking with their name on it
- Visit their grave site and leave a special token
- Light a candle for them and leave it lit during special moments
- Continue their favorite holiday tradition
- Make holiday crafts with their belongings or clothing
- Host an event specifically meant to honor your loved one
- Cook their favorite meal
- Bake their favorite dessert
- Cook or bake the meal they always brought to the holidays
- Buy them a small gift for the holiday you celebrate
- Write them a special message
- Keep something of theirs out on display
- Display a photo of them or a family photo
- Have a specific decoration on display in their memory such as a mini table top Christmas tree
- Share memories and photos of them at your holiday get together
- Have a toast in their name
Honoring your loved one this holiday season is a way for you to express your grief but still be able to enjoy the holiday season. Your loved one may leave a void that can’t be filled but honoring them during this time is a way to express the love you and others had for them. It’s a way to remember the good times and maybe even laugh with others while sharing funny stories about your loved one. Grief is a lifelong journey but it doesn’t have to take over your life.