The First Holiday Without A Loved One | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post

A First Holiday Without A Loved One

Losing a loved one is tough any day of the year, but it starts to hit hard during the holiday season.

maggietate
Dec 19, 2018
University of Mississippi
113
A First Holiday Without A Loved One
Everypixel

The holiday season is full of love, joy, giving and family… unless you just lost a loved one, then it can be dreadful and depressing.

I have always been one to absolutely love Christmas and counting down all the days to it; however, we recently lost my grandma and this will be our very first holiday season without her. I always imagined it was unbelievably tough for those that lost a loved one during their first holiday without them, but I never truly understood it until it happened to me, like most things. With each passing day as it gets closer to Christmas, I just wish it would be over and done with. I get upset thinking about that side of the family and the time we will spend together, minus one, this year.

For any of you going through this as well, there are a few things that I have learned that help ease the pain a little bit. If your loved one was suffering, just think of how miserable they would be had they been able to make it to the celebration. Whether they were suffering or not, they are living a much better life than we can imagine now! Take this as an opportunity to live in the now this holiday season. When you're with your family, stop and take a second to look around and take it all in, enjoy a few minutes talking individually with everyone, laugh, take pictures and make memories. It is much easier said than done, but try not to dwell on the loss of one but instead enjoy the company of many. You should never feel guilty enjoying your life because you lost a loved one; trust me they're much happier and far more content than any of us here on Earth. Enjoy those you still have and have a very happy holiday season!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

6 Signs You Are An English Major

#EnglishMajorProbs

SMUM
572
6 Signs You Are An English Major

There are various stereotypes about college students, most of which revolve around the concept of your major. Unfortunately, we often let stereotypes precede our own judgments, and we take what information is immediately available to us rather than forming our own opinions after considerable reflection. If I got a dollar for every time my friends have made a joke about my major I could pay my tuition. One stereotype on campus is the sensitive, overly critical and rigid English major. Here are six telltale signs you are one of them.

Keep Reading...Show less
english major
Entertainment

27 Things 'The Office' Has Taught Us

"The Office" is a mockumentary based on everyday office life featuring love triangles, silly pranks and everything in between. It can get pretty crazy for just an average day at the office.

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
2067
the office
http://www.ssninsider.com/

When you were little, your parents probably told you television makes your brain rot so you wouldn't watch it for twelve straight hours. However, I feel we can learn some pretty valuable stuff from television shows. "The Office," while a comedy, has some pretty teachable moments thrown in there. You may not know how to react in a situation where a co-worker does something crazy (like put your office supplies in jello) but thanks to "The Office," now you'll have an idea how to behave ifsomething like that should happen.

Here are just a few of the things that religious Office watchers can expect to learn.

Keep Reading...Show less
the office
Student Life

10 Signs You’re A Pre-Med Student

Ah, pre-med: home of the dead at heart.

Berkeley, California
1302
Grey's Anatomy
TV Guide

Being pre-med is quite a journey. It’s not easy juggling school work, extracurricular activities, volunteering, shadowing, research, and MCAT prep all at the same time. Ever heard of “pain is temporary, but GPA is forever?” Pre-meds don’t just embody that motto; we live and breathe it. Here are 10 symptoms you’re down with the pre-med student syndrome.

Keep Reading...Show less
med students
Entertainment

High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading

Books were always about understanding for me, about learning the way someone else sees, about connection.

Rutgers University
958
High School And College Sucked All Of The Fun Out Of Reading
Photo by Clementina Toso on Unsplash

I keep making this joke whenever the idea of books is brought up: "God, I wish I knew how to read." It runs parallel to another stupid phrase, as I watch my friends struggle through their calculus classes late at night in our floor lounge: "I hope this is the year that I learn to count." They're both truly idiotic expressions, but, when I consider the former, I sometimes wonder if there's some truth to it.

Keep Reading...Show less
books lit
Entertainment

One Book Made Me Question Existence In Its Entirety

A book by the name of "The Stranger."

The State University of New York at Stony Brook
265
One Book Made Me Question Existence In Its Entirety
Photo by Rey Seven on Unsplash

"The Stranger" by Albert Campus touches upon many heavy elements... but not in the way you expect. Although it touches upon the aspects of death and love, it also deals with a hidden philosophy similar to that of nihilism.

The story follows the short life events of Meursault, a Frenchman whose carelessness for his actions eventually ends him in jail and dependent on a jury of people to judge the ethicality of his decision and the punishment that he deserves. He eventually gets the death penalty and all throughout he is nonchalant and almost apathetic towards his situation. He finally snaps when the prison sends a priest to him to absolve him of his sins and to cajole him in confessing to the lord.

Keep Reading...Show less
book review

Trending Topics

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments