When a writer writes, a question that accompanies every effort is: who is your audience? In this Thanksgiving week (the unofficial plunge into the other end-of-the-year holidays), I write for a particular person.
She hurts, in her bones, in her heart, in her soul. She would like to vanish right now, and reappear sometime in January after the interminable holidays are finished.
He hates the thought of “celebrating.” There’s nothing he’s grateful for, and sharing a table with friends and family for “thanks” and “giving” seems a cruel joke.
After all, the wonderful person I am writing to is ill. But she doesn’t have a cold or the flu. She’s ill with a life-limiting disease. Ill as in now or soon she will enter into hospice care.
After all, the overwhelmed person I am writing to is a caregiver. This time, for him, the giving of care will be far more than providing chicken noodle soup or hot tea. His loved one is dying.
After all, the precious person I am writing to—and there are so many in this season—a griever. Every day has a dose of pain. Holidays increase those “doses” to unbearable levels.
How can we celebrate a holiday when facing death?
How can we celebrate a holiday when grieving?
How can we celebrate in the season of the empty chair?
I don’t have an answer to those questions. Sometimes we can compartmentalize our feelings. Yes, you may be desperately in love for the first time, or your baby is born, or you’re about to start your dream job, and that joyful circumstance dominates every thought! But, with all of your giddiness, you can still accomplish a to-do list and make plans. You’re good at juggling tasks and balancing demands!
But not now. Not with dying. Not with grief. Dying and grief force themselves into every nook and cranny of your life.
This I encourage for those entering into the holiday season knowing they are dying: take every moment you can with the people who matter most to you. Never hesitate to say “No” to events or individuals that don’t fill you with life and love. Never hesitate to say “Yes” to every situation that provides life and love. Your quality of life is #1. In the best sense of what it means, be selfish with your time, choices, and companions.
This I encourage for those entering into the holiday season burdened with grief: what I wrote in the above paragraph is also what I’d say to you. But I’ll repeat this: be selfish with your time, choices, and companions. If you need alone time, take it. If you are hesitant to join with a family gathering (or other difficult activities), but feel like you should try, then try. But also feel okay about walking away, leaving early, or changing your mind. You are wounded and healing. If others don’t understand or respect that, seek out those who do.
Holidays are impossibly hard.
I have no magic to make them easier, but I hope there’s “one person” who is helped by these words.
How you celebrate—or don’t celebrate—the holidays this year doesn’t mean your decisions (or lack of decisions) are permanent for you or your loved ones. Significant grief does ebb, does become more bearable, and you will be able to make different choices next year, and the next year, and the next year. I believe your love for the person you grieve will be as strong as ever. And I believe you will become stronger as you continue to heal with each new day.
With humility and gentleness, I wish you, Happy Holidays.
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My book, A Companion for the Hospice Journey, is available at Amazon.