I can’t remember a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter without grief. My brother died on Thanksgiving when I was 15. Loss of a loved one will always be with you. It does get easier, but the hole in your heart always remains.
How do you cope? I always put grief in a box. I give myself a few minutes to be sad, then I enjoy the fun of the day. Now, as a widow with grown children, I celebrate alone. My daughter lives far away and would not enjoy company. My son has traditions with his friends, and while he would include me, I would be a damper on his party. It would be easy to be sad, so to avoid being sad, I find something fun for me. This year on Thanksgiving, I plan on seeing Wicked, then going out to dinner at Denny’s. Then I’ll binge-watch my favorite movie, It’s a Wonderful Life.
Everyone handles grief differently. For me, it is just remembering that the lives of those I lost made a difference in the world. You will miss them and love them forever and always—that is love. Filling the hole with memories of the happy times helps. Choosing to find fun helps too. I hope you aren’t missing anyone this year, but if you are, I send you hugs.
