Tag Archives: Christmas

The Mary Mac Show | Preparing Yourself For The Holiday Season

The Mary Mac Show Podcast

In this week’s episode, we discuss how to prepare yourself as we encounter the year-end holidays.

No matter which ones you celebrate, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, or many others after a loved one has died, they just don’t feel the same.

If it’s the first holiday season since you have been bereaved, or it’s a few more, trying to feel happy and enjoying the seasons as you did in the past, can be an especially difficult task.

The main thing you need to know is that you don’t have to do all you’ve done in the past.

You can decide on a different path. You can curtail your events and celebrations this year and there is nothing wrong with that.

Your emotional state is different now and you must be sensitive to that and treat yourself with more care.

So listen in to Episode 50 and please be kind to yourself as we move into this season.

And remember to pick up my ebook Holiday Grief: How To Cope With Stress, Anxiety and Depression After a Loved One’s Death right here on my site on the left hand margin.

Additional Notes:

Learn EFT, the Emotional Freedom Technique with Brad Yates.

Meditation Videos to help you rest. Choose which resonate with you.

Also, I hope you will help support my podcast by using the links on the site. It would be much appreciated.

Please share with anyone you know who might benefit from this knowledge. Also subscribe to my podcast on whichever podcast platform you listened in.

xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Christmas and Hanukkah Gatherings with Family and Friends

The Mary Mac Show PodcastIn Episode 3, I delve into how to handle Christmas and Hanukkah with family and friends and Holiday Grief.

I also talk about how to help your children during this time of year.

Children are most vulnerable after a loved one’s death and need you to comfort, guide, and be close.

They are hurting too and need attention. If you are busy, do have a trusted friend be attentive to them.

This week, especially, be kind to yourself. Take the time you need for yourself.

And honor your loved one during gatherings in some way. I speak about many ways to do that.

Go to The Mary Mac Show and download Episode 3. Subscribing is the easiest way to insure you’ll always get my podcast each Sunday morning.

May this week bring you joy concentrating on the memories of your loved one and even if you cry or have mixed emotions, celebrate their life. Focus on the good, happy moments you shared with them rather than what you don’t have.

Reach for something that will make you smile or laugh.

I’ll be thinking of you this week.

May you have a wonderful Hanukkah and Merry Christmas.

xoxo

The Mary Mac Show | Preparing for Christmas and Hanukkah

The Mary Mac Show PodcastIn Episode 2, I delve into how to best prepare yourself for the year-end holidays, Christmas and Hanukkah.

The very best thing you can do for yourself is to consider what you are capable of, what brings you joy, how to decrease stress surrounding gifts, decorating, baking, invitations, etc.

What you did last year or in years past, may not be practical this year. It may just be too much for you and that’s alright.

I also discuss how to talk to family and friends to discuss how they can help you at this time.

Go to The Mary Mac Show and download Episode 2. Subscribing is the easiest way to insure you’ll always get my podcast each Sunday morning.

When Family Causes Grief at the Holidays

It’s Christmas and it would be nice if everyone’s family could understand the grief we are feeling and the intensity of it. Whether we are grieving a loved one’s death, in the thick of a divorce, have been transplanted to another city for work and can’t make it home, or simply have those pesky folks in the family who are feuding for some nonsensical thing that happened years ago and no one’s made up yet, Christmas always seems to open up wounds in some manner.

It’s like that proverbial band-aid that keeps getting pulled off opening up the scab again. It just doesn’t seem to fully heal.

And there are just some wounds that may never heal, yet for us to move forward with life, we need to find a balance.

A very good friend had a miserable Christmas this year because she still believe it’s her siblings’ role to visit her for Christmas. She can’t understand why they won’t.

They’ve all had their share of wounds from past hurts but no one will give in, leaving my friend lonely and sad on what should be the joyous of holidays.

So instead of letting it go and enjoying herself with her friends and turning them into her new family, she made herself sick because it didn’t turn out the way she wanted it. And instead of having dinner with neighbors who wanted to make it a wonderful holiday for her, she decided not to attend.

All I could think about is ‘how foolish.’

You have people who love you here, but you’re still trying to control a situation with actual family over a thousand miles away. That helps no one, most of all her.

Sometimes you have to cut your losses and realize you cannot control anyone but yourself.

You can’t change anyone but yourself.

So, perhaps one day, she will let that be and embrace the ones who do love and care about her. They just don’t have the same last name.