December comes along and snow is falling to the ground. The thoughts that hang in the back of our minds gravitate toward Christmas! This can bring both joy and stress, joy because we get the chance to gather with family and celebrate together. However, there is another side to this coin. If you have experienced the loss of a loved one this can also bring stress. We find ourselves missing the loved ones that have passed on bringing a sense of melancholy as Christmas draws near. Another element that can make it stressful is different family dynamics presenting themselves.
I have lost 2 family members in the last few weeks, so this hits a bit closer to home than you may realize. Both family members that have passed away I have not seen in years, and I had no chance to say goodbye. These losses have brought up others who have passed away before and remind me how much has been lost in their absence. When I was younger, and everyone came together at Christmas everything felt so wonderful. I had no idea why anyone would not find Christmas the most amazing time of year, but as time has passed and we have lost the ones that held the family together we have seen how it has impacted even the way we gather.
Christmas usually has dinner, games, present exchange and visiting, but we lost something uniquely special when my grandmother passed away. We would gather at my grandparent's house, we would sing carols together, and Grandpa would read the Christmas story. With our Christmas gatherings changing, we stopped meeting weekly as a family on Sunday afternoons and family members moved away. My Grandfather and two of my aunts moved to Saskatchewan. My grandmother was the glue that held us all together. Every Christmas since she passed, I am reminded of all we have missed in her absence.
We cannot change the past, however, there are ways to bring us back to these traditions we have lost over time. There are ways to bring joy back that has been lost, and we can focus on the good. I am grateful and blessed for my family and am looking forward to Christmas with as many of them as I can.
Additionally, there are new family dynamics as kids grow up get married and start having their own traditions, move away or even become estranged. These constant changes make family traditions challenging to carry forward. Christmas may not look like the ones you experienced as a child, however, now is a great time to shift and make it the very best it can be for everyone, less stressful and more joyful! A true time of reunion and celebration!
Come join us for this webinar as we look at these issues more in-depth and share strategies that we have learned along the ways. We look forward to seeing you there. RSVP using the button below.