As a social worker, I have heard many stories about how family time during the holidays provokes many emotions. For some, it is a time that is anticipated and enjoyed; memories are created that bring good feelings, and recalling family conversations and moments brings goodness and gratitude when reflected upon.
For others, the idea of gathering causes anxiety and uncertainty. The
rehearsed possible conversations take so much energy that when the gathering arrives, individuals enter their family time depleted and ready for it to be over before it even begins.
And for some, there is no relationship to look forward to or to be anxious about. For some, loss by death or severance of a relationship does not even allow for the possibility of a shared time together.
I don’t know where you fall in these scenarios; maybe you have a mix of them that make up your reality. Maybe your year has been marked by grief, and your family felt lost in how to be together this year. Maybe your year has been marked by conflict and volatility, and you are finding it difficult to believe in joy and peace for 2024. Maybe your year has been marked by a struggle to survive, either in food insecurity, housing disruption, mental illness, emotional health, or broken relationships. These realities make every day difficult.
If you can identify with the first paragraph of this blog, please use your positive energy and capacity to be kind in the coming weeks as so many recover from the holidays. For some, what they are holding in their hearts as they re-enter daily routine, kindness may be the best gift they receive this season!
