When you are mourning, it may be difficult to face each new day as it comes. As such, it can be even more daunting to embrace a whole brand new year that seems to stretch out endlessly. When you’ve just finished your loved one’s burial services, you feel insecure about the possibilities that the New Year may bring. After all, you only have memorials and mementos left of the deceased. How will you face new routines without your beloved by your side? The feeling of emptiness just hits hard, making you feel paralyzed and choked up with emotion.
As a grieving person, know that it is normal to feel afraid and unsure when you ring in the New Year. After all, you’ve just conquered a few trials, and perhaps you may fear facing more challenges. The lonely feeling is also hard to grapple with, so you may feel reluctant to celebrate the forthcoming new days by your lonesome. With the death of a beloved, you already grapple with waking up in the morning and trudging through the entire day alone. What more doing this for a whole year?
When you long for the past, it can be easy to resist and accept a new year. But remember, even if you are scared or depressed, you can still open your door a tiny bit to let the New Year’s blessings pour through. Here’s what you can do at this time of the year to make it a little bit easier:
Take Time to Pause
Begin the New Year with much-needed R&R. Rest and relaxation are primary allies to heal your exhausted heart and soul. Grief is a difficult burden to bear. Pining for the person and memories you shared can take its toll on your body. If you’re feeling unstable, ask your doctor for advice so you can calm down. At times, taking a vacation with relatives or friends can help with your healing. Seeing new places and experiencing new things will make you see that your life is beautiful despite a few tragedies. Allow yourself time to grieve, and remember that this journey is different for everyone.
Make Positive Affirmations
Apart from your physical body, you also need to give your mental health a rest. Now is the time to quash out negative thoughts. Instead, replace it with positive affirmations so you can feel less desolate, scared, and sad. You can help yourself out by playing calming and soothing music. You can also read inspirational books to aid you in sorting out your complex emotions. For those who are religious, saying your prayers can do wonders in fixing a broken spirit.
Try Out New Activities
The start of the year is the perfect time to try new activities. Maybe your recent loss will motivate you to do something you’ve been longing to do but haven’t found the time to try. Whether it is a painting lesson or dance classes, give yourself permission to try. Do it in honor of your beloved. You can also find small practical activities that make you feel relaxed. Try yoga, knitting, meditation, etc. Sometimes, endings bring forth new beginnings, and all it takes to make it happen is the courage to try.
Seek Support From People
When you’re feeling down due to the death of a loved one, you’ll find that people who care about you genuinely want to help you out. Take the time to talk to your family and friends. Go back down memory lane and share stories. Attend a support group and learn from others who have experienced the same thing as you. You may find their advice helpful. Above all, if you’re religious, seek spiritual support from your local priest, minister, rabbi, or imam. In the wake of your loss, your religious beliefs can bring you immeasurable comfort and peace.
Support an Advocacy
It will feel rewarding to help out others in need when you are feeling down. When you are fueled by the loving memories you shared with the deceased, you can show heartfelt compassion for others. It will remind you that you still have so many things to be grateful for in spite of a few setbacks. There are many ways to help, such as:
- Volunteering in a cancer ward
- Helping in a soup kitchen
- Reading to less fortunate kids
- Conducting food drives
- Giving medical supplies where your loved one was confined
- Donating money in honor of the deceased
The above suggestions are not exhaustive, but as you can see, there are many ways to help out for the New Year. You can find advocacies that your deceased loved one feels strongly about. Then do everything in his or her honor. Perform the best you can for yourself and other people in the present, one day at a time. Through this, you can face your fears, feel thankful for your past, and live bravely into the future. In time, you’ll feel eager to welcome change and the brand new days ahead with the memory of the deceased tucked in your heart.