How to get through the holidays while grieving: what to keep, what to skip, how to handle traditions and gatherings, and language for setting limits.
Holidays magnify absence. Traditions that once felt warm can become unbearable, and the pressure to participate arrives from every direction.
This piece offers a practical approach: deciding in advance which traditions to keep, change, or set down for a year, planning an exit from gatherings before you need one, and finding words for family who expect you to be fine. It also makes room for the confusing experience of enjoying a moment and then feeling guilty for it.