Grief Counselling & Loss Therapy in Burlington

Have the holiday songs started playing in the stores near you yet? For a lot of people, that first song is a happy little signal. But when you're missing someone this year, it can land a bit differently. That's grief during the holidays, and it often shows up well before the holidays do.

Part of it is the waiting. The mind likes to run ahead and picture the day before it gets here, so for many people, the lead-up is the hardest part. And holidays are full of the people we share them with. Their recipe, or the story they told at every dinner. So if missing them catches you in the middle of the grocery store, that's normal. Many people describe grief as coming in waves, and waves come and go.

A simple plan can make the season feel a little lighter. It takes about five minutes and a scrap of paper. Try it as you listen, or just listen now and come back to it later. First, circle the days you think might be hard, like a birthday, a party, or the holiday morning itself. They tend to be easier when you've thought about them ahead of time. Next, pick one small way to remember them. Light a candle at dinner, or make their recipe. Choose whatever feels right to you.

Then give yourself permission to do less. You don't have to keep every tradition this year. And it's okay to leave a party early. Last, let one friend know which days might be hard. And ask them to check in with you. A quick text that just says, thinking of you, can mean a lot.

If you find yourself laughing, in the middle of it all, enjoy it. A happy moment doesn't mean you've forgotten them. It's often one of the ways you carry them with you.

Keep that scrap of paper somewhere you'll see it, like on the fridge, and change it whenever you need to. This season can hold both. You can miss them, and still enjoy the lights.