Bridging Joy and Grief: Navigating Loss, Gratitude, and Healing During the Holidays

by LeShundra Green RN, MSN, MHA

As we go into the holidays no one wants to think of grief and loss, but so many of us face tremendous loss even at the most joyous times. The question becomes how do we cope, how do we grieve, but also give thanks and gratitude for the season? Well, you do both!! We as humans seem to believe that joy and pain can not coexist in the same present, but they do all the time. We usually don’t recognize the gifts because we see loss as a negative. Even with sudden losses, although harder, we must learn to go through the grief to bridge a path to healing.

Grief is a natural response to a loss and it is the emotional suffering a person feels when something or someone is taken away from them. The more significant the loss the deeper the suffering can seem. The loss of a person is usually what we associate with grief and loss but any loss can cause grief. From losing a special keepsake to not making partner, loss, and grief is embedded into our lives. How you handle grief and loss plays a critical role in developing healthy coping strategies during difficult times.

The TimeOUT method was created as a way for me to process all the losses that I had experienced over the past 10 years. I lost deeply, but what I decided to do was to not let my grief consume me. And no, the road has not been easy, and I have had setbacks and challenges plenty, but I found the grace to stay the course. I stopped focusing on external happiness and turned inward. I know we have heard a version of this a million times, but the answer to peace is through your pain. The saying “Joy Comes in the Morning” speaks strictly to overcoming grief. Loss happens to us all but instead of burying away your pain, I invite you to open up your heart not to the pain, but to the joy on the other side.

Stay in gratitude

LeShundra