Holiday Grief – Tip # 1
One of the most asked questions is “How do I remember my loved one at Christmas and the holidays?” And the answer is…in so many ways.
Just your thoughts of them honor their memory, but there are practical ways, too.
Visiting their resting place and leaving flowers, balloons and even tucking cards and notes in the soil expressing how you feel and how much you miss them.
Having a placesetting at your holiday table with a rose across their dish.
Leaving their stocking on the mantel and extending an invitation to your children and loved ones to leave a note or small symbolic gift in it.
If a child has died, perhaps the toys that would have been given to your children from you and others in your family can be given to a grieving children’s support group after the holidays.
While at dinner, you can suggest that each dinner guest share their favorite story about the loved one who has died or was killed, in an effort to keep their memory alive while bringing laughter and joy to everyone. Even if there are tears, it’s perfectly ok…someone will come up with a funny story that will lighten the mood.
Make a contribution in their name to a wonderful organization that he or she felt strongly about.
Wear some piece of their clothing or jewelry.
Holidays are also a good time to share some of their belongings with your surviving family members. If grandpa had a favorite watch, perhaps it’s meant for your teenage son who loved him so dearly. Having that watch can bring comfort knowing he now can remember the wonderful times he saw his grandfather wear that watch when they were together.
You can also take a bunch of balloons, write messages on them in felt pen and let them float into the heavens either in your backyard, at the cemetery, or another memorable place.
These ideas should help you think of others which would make you feel better.
My book Holiday Grief: How To Cope with Stress, Anxiety and Depression After a Loved One’s Death is available now by clicking here.
Let us know how you’ve remembered your loved one during the holiday season by commenting below.
