St. Croix Hospice: Seasonal Changes And The Holidays

Hi, everyone. I am so excited to be here again. Welcome to this week's livestream on Cadre with Saint Cray Hospice. You know, today I really want to dive into a topic that many of us find challenging, especially during this time of year, right? We focus on grief, weather, change. It's so cold outside right now. So as we're approaching the holidays here and we're experiencing the seasonal changes, it's really important to kind of distinguish how grief can feel much more intense during the holidays.

So the change in weather, the anticipate anticipation of gatherings, family events, the memories that come flooding in, it can all stir up a mixture of emotions and feelings. Happy Friday, Anna. You know, we are not alone when we are feeling this way. So today we're going to kind of talk about how to navigate these feelings. So, you know, as we acknowledge our struggle with the upcoming holidays and we move closer to those holidays, it's really important to recognize how these times can amplify our feelings of loss.

Traditions that once brought joy may now bring sadness. And that is completely valid. It's very crucial to remember that grief doesn't just occur during significant dates or holidays, and it can be triggered by everyday moments too. So this is a really important thing that we want to kind of make sure that we're reflecting back on, right? So take a moment during these holidays to express and reflect back on those feelings. Think about what are some of those memories that come up for you during this time of year?

You know, it's okay to honor those memories and the loved ones that we've lost. So I encourage you to create a space for those memories and those emotions that come along with them as our holiday season approaches and even beyond that. So a few different strategies that I kind of want to kind of point out as we navigate this season, make sure that we are creating new traditions. It's okay to kind of reflect back on those moments, those other traditions that we might have. But consider finding different ways to honor our loved ones.

Maybe we are lighting a candle or sharing a memory with family. Taking those moments to have those traditions handy are really important. Another strategy is set those boundaries. Kind of prepare yourself to decline those invitations. If you're not feeling up to socializing or going to that holiday party, it's okay to say no and say, I just don't want to be there. I'm in my grief and that's where I am. Another thing, practice self care. Prioritize those activities that nurture your spirit. Whether that's a walk in nature, maybe you're journaling or simply just taking time for yourself, that's what's really important.

And as we kind of navigate these preparations for the holidays, we really need to also focus on the seasonal changes. So as the weather changes, it can also affect our mood, right? The shorter days, the colder temperatures, it might make us feel more isolated. We get up in the morning, we're going to work, it's dark out. We get home, it's still dark out. So we kind of navigate those shorter days. And it's very crucial to be aware of how these changes are really going to impact our emotional wellbeing.

So here are some ways to kind of cope with the seasonal shift. You can stay connected. Reach out to your friends, your family. Even if it's just like a quick message, right? Pick up the phone, call someone, send them a text message. However, it works for you. But just make sure that you're staying connected with your loved ones. Maybe you're going to embrace, embrace the nature. You can spend time outdoors, maybe go for a brief walk to help kind of lift your spirits, or even just take a moment to sit at a park and take in the fresh air.

Another thing to consider is using light therapy. A light therapy box, if you're feeling down, may help people find more light in those darker months. Right. Right now, we experience darkness all the time, just in general with looking outside. But we might experience some of those darker months when we're thinking back on our grief. So it's really important to utilize those light therapy boxes and kind of find another tool to kind of brighten us up when we're feeling down. So for me, I want you to kind of remember it's okay to feel a mix of these emotions during this time.

Grief and joy can coexist. That's okay. It's important to honor both of those. So I truly do want to encourage you to be gentle with yourselves during this time. It's completely normal to feel a whirlwind of emotions, and grief can come at you unexpectedly. So allow yourself the grace to grieve in your own way and at your own pace. I know there's a few of you listening right now, but I'd love to hear from you. How do you navigate grief during the holidays? What are some of your strategies that work for you?

Please feel free. Share those in the comments. If you're interested in sharing any of those ways, or even after today's livestream, it's nice to have moments where we can reflect back on these messages and kind of see what works for other individuals. So just to kind of wrap up today's livestream, I really just want to thank you all for being here with me today. So let's really continue to support one another in our journeys. Right? Grief's not easy. But remember, you're not alone in your journey through grief, so we're here for you.

We're ready to listen and support you in any way that we can. So take care, and I hope you find moments of peace and connections in the coming weeks and months. Happy holidays.