11/13/2024
I read this story, and my heart cried. In this story, the family lost the husband and father pretty suddenly to cancer. I don't pretend to know the pain that this family is going through as I couldn't even imagine the depth, however, I can understand how traumas affect families. Families suffer through all kinds of traumas, and it affects each of us very differently. Some people really try to go back to "normal".
However, nothing can go back to normal once it changes. All you can do is embrace change the best you can and create something new that works for your inner spirit.
I was drawn to it because after my divorce, the holidays felt so incredibly different and almost unnatural. I had celebrated the same kind of holidays for over 20 years. The holidays almost looked almost the same.
For me and for many, the new ends up feeling like a radical change to other people.
It was hard to create a look to the holidays, but it had to be done. And I will never go back to what was the old. I am embracing the new.
That meant, last year, I traveled with my now husband out of state for both holidays. New Mexico for Christmas to experience the White Sands and Christmas in St. Lucia. I had to create new with my children, which are now adults, which we did.
The holidays bring a mixed bag of emotions for many people. So, for those of you out there that feel that internal struggle to be happy when you don't feel like it, be kinder and gentler to yourself this holiday season.
Instead of turkey, we ate takeout kebabs on the couch in our pajamas. We left the ornaments and garlands in basement boxes.
