Child & Adolescent Therapist | Empowering Young Minds to Thrive | Mental Health Advocate Breaking Stigma in Youth Communities
💔 The holidays have a way of amplifying absence. For many of us, the holiday season is a time of joy, family traditions, and togetherness. But when you’ve lost someone you love, even years ago, the season can feel heavier. I still remember my first Christmas without my grandmother. She was the glue that held our family together—the one who made every gathering feel warm and full of life. That year, everything felt different. The laughter wasn’t the same, the traditions felt incomplete, and her absence was impossible to ignore. Grief doesn’t have an expiration date. Even if the loss wasn’t recent, the holidays have a way of bringing it back to the surface. Familiar songs, sights, or traditions can serve as bittersweet reminders of what once was, and what can never be the same again. If you’re feeling this way, know that it’s okay to not feel “cheerful” all the time. It’s okay to miss someone deeply and still try to find moments of joy. The two can coexist. This year, I wrote about how we can navigate these feelings during the holidays—not by ignoring them, but by honoring our loved ones and finding new ways to celebrate. 📖 If you’d like to read it, here’s the link: https://lnkd.in/gwCFm_qc. To those of you missing someone this season: you’re not alone. Let’s be gentle with ourselves and each other, allowing space for both grief and joy to exist. 💬 Have you found meaningful ways to honor your loved ones during the holidays? I’d love to hear how you’ve navigated these moments. #Grief #HolidaysAfterLoss #MentalHealthAwareness #EmpathyMatters #HealingTogether
