The Healing Journey

December 9, 2023

Every year of her adult life, Sandy made the same disturbing comment as the holiday season rolled around: “I hate Christmas.” It put a damper on the joy and festivities of the rest of the family. In fact, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s, her attitude cast a shadow over the holiday season.

During that time, there were anniversaries of the deaths of some of her closest relatives and friends. Her adoptive father died suddenly after a heart attack while he was driving on December 23. Two years later, her mother died on the same day. Her father-in-law died on Christmas Eve, and the woman she cared for in her last years died two days after Christmas, so the holiday was spent in anticipation of death.

The holiday season always sees an increase in deaths. She eventually met other people who lost their parents on Christmas Eve. How could she forget those disturbing anniversaries and the memories of what had occurred?

Certain times of the year are more difficult to deal with, such as Christmas and New Year’s, not to mention birthdays and anniversaries, so be prepared and surround yourself with loving friends and family members who will help get you through.

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Holidays will always be hard.