The pandemic has taken a lot of wonderful people from us these past two years. We’ve lost our close family and friends, and a lot of us are still grieving. This holiday season is going to be tuff for me personally, due to the fact that I lost my mother two months ago. She was my number one supporter and also my very best friend. I miss her daily and I often feel the void of her being gone.
I wanted to share some of the things I do to cope with this since I know there are others out there dealing with the same thing. Grief is not a fast process and so I had to realize that emotions can change at any moment and it was okay to allow those feelings to occur. It’s healthy to allow yourself to feel and allow yourself to take breaks when needed. I’ve also found that staying productive really helps. Productive simply means still doing the things that need to be done. Take care of your mind, body, and soul.
Exercise when you can. Exercise can consist of lifting weights, going for a walk, or even running on a treadmill. Just something to keep you moving.
Make sure you eat when you can. Sometimes grief can affect your appetite. Remember to eat and drink to keep your immune system healthy and so your body doesn't shutdown from lack of resources.
If you’re a spiritual person, maintain that spiritual connection with GOD. Read and pray when possible. Doing this helps you learn to understand the process and provide your soul with inner peace.
Keep your loved ones and friends around you when needed. Having a solid support system will definitely help you through this. Make sure you have positive vibes and the right people in your corner.
One last thing, is to take mental breaks. Don’t expect things to just fix itself overnight. Being sad is part of the process, just don’t allow it to create depression within yourself. If you start to feel as if you’re needing more mental support, by all means join a support group or seek counseling. Counselling is amazing when you need it.
So as we get started with this holiday week, please remember to take care of yourself and do whatever you need to do in order to be okay. You are not alone and we will get through this together and you are not alone.