How to Handle Holiday Grief After a Loss
After a loved one dies, you will grieve. And one of the most common triggers for grief, apart from the immediate aftermath, are holidays, such as Father’s Day, which is on June 17 this year. Whatever time of year your family member or friend died, eventually, you will be forced to face a special event that used to include the one you lost. Whether the first holiday you face is an anniversary, birthday, religious, or legal occasion, there are steps you can take to ease the process of celebrating while moving on. Here’s how to handle holiday grief.
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Acknowledge the Loss
The truth is that things will never the same. And that is okay. Give yourself permission to grieve. People experience grief differently. So, don’t try to process things according to anyone else’s timetable. They say that time heals all wounds.
Rose Kennedy disagreed. She said: “It has been said that time heals all wounds. I don’t agree. The wounds remain. Time – the mind, protecting its sanity – covers them with some scar tissue and the pain lessens, but it is never gone.”
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Change It Up
While you will may eventually want to observe familiar traditions, when someone you love dies, you may want to chuck it all for a year or two and celebrate in a completely new and different way. Some families head to an amusement park or throw an entirely different kind of party than the ones they used to enjoy. This enables celebration by diverting attention away from past events but still honoring the occasion. Whether you choose to maintain this alteration or return to tradition, you can make that decision later.
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Don’t Compare
Anything done without your loved one will suffer by comparison. So, don’t even entertain the idea of how this holiday stacks up to previous years. Change is a natural part of family life. So, realize that while things won’t be the same, they will improve. And, eventually, you will adapt. In the meantime, avoid the temptation to lock yourself away and ignore painful memories. Spend time with people you love and who love you. Socializing should help you process the grief. And who knows? A good friend may even offer a hug if you start to cry.
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Honor Your Loved One & Your Memories
Instead of stifling your grief, look at the holiday as an opportunity to honor the deceased. You can do this with photos, a memory book, videos, or donations given in their name. You may want to set a place at the table to honor your father on Father’s Day or a veteran who has passed, on Memorial Day. Don’t worry about keeping up old traditions if they make you sad. But try to find ways to create new memories you’ll be able to cherish for years to come.
About Foothill Funeral & Cremation
We love helping families throughout the grieving process. Call us now or at your time of need (626) 335-0615. Feel free to drop by our Glendora showroom. Our relationship with United Methodist Church is the perfect place for mourners to host funerals and memorials. You’ll love the grandiose yet intimate setting. We proudly serve the San Gabriel Valley, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles Basin, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Working in the mortuary industry since 1996, we have worked hard to build a reputation of quality, sincerity and trust. Please allow us to help you at your time of need or in the future. Call today (626) 335-0615 or contact us via email.
