Embracing the Light in the Shadows: Navigating Grief During the Holidays
As the holiday season wraps its arms around us, bringing with it a tapestry of memories and traditions, it’s important to acknowledge a hidden, yet profound aspect of this time — the grief that can accompany the absence of loved ones. In the heart of where I live in Chicago, where the wind whispers tales of countless lives, I’ve witnessed the complexities of grief, both as an educator and as a compassionate observer.
The poignant insights of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross on the five stages of grief —
- Denial and Isolation
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
These steps provide a framework to understand our journey through loss. But what happens when the script of grief doesn’t align with our experience? What if our hearts are anchored in sorrow while the world celebrates?
This conundrum became clear to me during a psychology class I was teaching at an innovative university in downtown Chicago. The lesson I was teaching was on grief, but I learned a crucial lesson from a brave student.
This student, grappling with the absence of a cherished family member during the holidays, echoed the silent scream of many when we talk about…
