Page 76 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 23

He alt h & healing
Health & healing
Navigating Grief
During the Holidays:
A Journey of Hope and Healing
olidays are meant to
be fun and festive, a
Hseason to look forward
to, to laugh and to celebrate,
yet for those grappling with
grief, the season can be an
overwhelming reminder of
loss. Grief, stemming from
various sources such as job
loss, the end of a marriage or
relationship, or the passing of
a loved one, can cast a shadow
on the festive spirit.
Grief takes on various forms
and affects individuals
differently. Having experienced
seasons of deep grief myself,
I understand the inclination
76 | we tell the true afrikan story
to withdraw from festivities.
There were times when I
preferred to stay alone, wishing
away the year as I grappled
with profound losses. It might
be the complete opposite
for others, wanting to party
the sorrow away. In writing
this, my heart resonates with
empathy for those trying to
navigate the pain.
Perhaps someone is reading
this who separated from their
spouse this past year, and this
will be the first Christmas
where you will have to split the
kids, which means some days
you might end up alone with
your thoughts.
I think of someone who
broke up from a long-term
relationship, and the breakup
has shattered their self-esteem
as they begin to feel like
they are not worthy of love.
Wondering if they will ever
find love again.
I think of the ladies in the baby
loss support group I started
who had mentally planned to
celebrate the holiday with their
growing babies but instead are
filled with pain and agony.
I think of the lady battling with
infertility who thought that
this would be the year that she
would conceive.
I think of those who lost one or
both of their parents within a
short period.
I think of the person who got
a negative medical report and
is not sure how their health is
going to progress.
I think of the person who has
lost a source of revenue, be it
a job or their business, and sits
at night worried about finances
and debt.
Someone else may be feeling