Christmas for One
The year 2020 has been one for the books. We are still surviving a global pandemic along with social and political unrest. Many of us are struggling to manage the grief that accompanies this unprecedented time in history. The holiday season this year may seem quite lonely — be that because we lost someone dear to us, or perhaps we are unable to get to our loved ones due to travel restrictions or out of an abundance of caution and adherence to CDC guidelines.
Whatever your reason, if you are spending the holidays alone this year… please know that while there may be a tender spot in your chest, and the feeling of loneliness may at times seem that it is too much to bear… I see you, and I want to welcome you into my virtual family.
This holiday season, you are a cousin of mine. While we cannot physically be together, I still would love it if we could participate in some of our favorite traditions. For me, that means baking something sweet and decorating the tree. My granny used to decorate her home so beautifully for the holidays, and it is a tradition that my mom and I carry on to this day in her absence.
Cousin, what is it that you are doing in your home — in the absence of our loved ones, that helps you to feel close even though we are apart? If you are making baked macaroni and cheese, I definitely want to know about it! Don’t be stingy with the recipe! Are we singing Christmas carols? You know I’m going to be off-key, but that is part of the fun. What holiday movie are we watching? I know my favorite is The Grinch.
This year, I want to know ALL the details, and I don’t want you to leave anything out. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that if we don’t look out for each other, we won’t amount to much of anything. I sincerely look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
Grace & Peace,
Tia, LCSW
