COVID, Holiday Grief, and Opportunity
It’s that magical time of year again where there are beautiful lights, Christmas trees, the lighting of the menorah, delicious food, and celebrating with our loved ones. Although some of this magic is still occurring, it is not how we have envisioned this season going. It has been more of a practice of surrender in what we can’t control and trust in the process and understanding we will get through this. To all of you who have suffered due to COVID: losing a loved one, having COVID and healed from it, experiencing a job loss, feeling isolated, anxious, or in fear, trips or celebrations canceled or postponed, etc., I want you to know you are not alone, and I am sending you all lots of blessings, and love. May you find peace in your heart to move forward through the rest of your year and your journey in this. May you find strength in moments you need them, and may you see the next steps to guide you to wholeness.
I know some of you may not be able to create the holidays as you usually do with gifts, traveling to see family and loved ones, or joining together in celebration, and this may create a space of sadness. For all of you who may have lost someone due to COVID and are spending these holidays without those precious loved ones, I want you to know you are not alone. There are people around you to love and support you; reach out to them. Know the universe, angels, guides, god, or whatever higher source you believe in surrounds you in this time. Ask to feel their support and fill you with what you need. Please know that we at Gather and Grow OC are here for you and reach out if you need anything. I will be sending you all much love and blessings.
As we step into this holiday, I want you to hold space for grief and allow it to come up and honor yourself in this. I also want you to create space for adjusting and building something beautiful from this space and all this shifting.
Steps to help you get through this holiday season:
Do a burn and release on what you are missing and the sadness and let it go.
Do something in honor of the loved ones who have passed on due to COVID or any other reasons (write them a letter and place it under the tree, make their favorite meal, share your favorite story about them with your loved ones, do something in their honor)
Decorate your home, and fill it with the scents and scenery that bring joy to you this season.
Appreciate the moments of greatness that do come up: whether that’s a nice walk in your neighborhood, or seeing a loved one smile, or your kids saying something funny or sharing a snuggle with you. Any small moment, be present and fill your heart with joy and gratitude.
Find this time as an opportunity to create what you want from your holiday season and honoring this. Honor your traditions or if you are a new family, create your own traditions. It is a beautiful opportunity to connect and honor your family and build a new space for yourselves in this.
Get crafty, make gifts for others out of your own creativity, and get your kids involved. Have fun with this!
If you can’t connect with your loved ones, get inventive with online connections (zoom meal and opening of gifts, or play an interactive game together).
Create space in this time. Take the time to honor yourselves. Allow space for some reflection in ending this year and what you want to do in this upcoming year as a way of personal growth. This year brought up a lot for us all, and it’s important to honor that grief but then allow yourself to see the opportunity that has been presenting itself to you.
Start to see what it is the universe has truly been challenging you with and make a choice in this next year to rise into your higher self and honor your true purpose in this life. See what the universe is asking you to look at, clear it, and move forward. I believe in you all and I know you can rise through this challenge.
Honor your pace in this, and trust everyone has a divine purpose, and taking the steps to align in honoring this. All things this year came up to be addressed, let’s find our beautiful light and rise together as a community, as a nation, as individuals!
We are all connected. Let’s bring forth that unconditional love for each other and ourselves. Trust in the light and forward movement! May you all be blessed with faith, abundance, and overflowing love to help guide you as you move forward and honor your inner selves!
