12/30/2023
**Navigating the Empty Chair: Coping with Loss During Special Days**
Today, I want to share something deeply personal, a journey that many of us inevitably undertake—the profound pain of losing a loved one. As I pour my heart into these words, the memory of my dear mother, Judy, who departed on May 4th, 2022, at 82, echoes with an ache that's particularly palpable today—her birthday.
**Coping During the Holidays: A Journey Through Grief**
The holidays can be especially challenging when someone dear is absent. The empty chair at the table, the unopened gifts—they become poignant reminders of a presence no longer physically felt. The first holiday season without my mother felt like trying to navigate a stormy sea without a compass. It's okay not to be okay during these times. Grief is a unique journey, and there's no set path to healing.
Here are a few ways that I have found, and these are just a few. Challenge yourself to be as creative as possible:
1. **Create a Memory Jar:** In the quiet moments when grief washes over, reaching into a jar filled with memories, sweet and poignant, becomes a tangible connection to the past.
2. **Symbolic Ornaments:** Each Christmas, I am going to buy, wrap and unwrap ornaments that will be chosen to symbolize my mother's spirit, it will be like unwrapping a piece of her love.
3. **Cook Their Signature Dish:** In the kitchen, where the aroma of my mother's signature dishes once filled the air, attempting to recreate it becomes a heartfelt tribute. It's almost as if her culinary legacy lives on.
4. **Release Lanterns or Balloons:** On special days, engage in the act of releasing lanterns or balloons, each carrying a whispered message to the heavens, will make it feel like sending a piece your heart directly to her.
**Thoughts as Years Go On: The Evolution of Grief**
As the years go by, the rawness of grief softens, but the yearning remains. Grief, I've come to realize, is not a linear journey. It's an unpredictable wave, carrying memories, laughter, and tears in its ebb and flow.
There's a bittersweet realization that life goes on, but the love and impact of the departed will continue to shape our present. It's essential to grant oneself the grace to grieve, to remember, and to find solace in the beautiful moments shared.
**Ways to Memorialize and Preserve Their Memory: Keeping the Flame Alive**
In my journey, finding ways to honor and preserve my mother's memory has offered a measure of solace. Here are some deeply personal touches:
1. **Create a Memorial Space:** On one wall in my home, I've crafted a sanctuary of memories—a shelf adorned with photos, trinkets, and the essence of her presence. It's my sacred space for reflection.
2. **Celebrate Their Favorites:** Embracing my mother's favorite activities, especially on special days, is a heartwarming homage. It's like weaving her spirit into the fabric of the present.
3. **Support a Cause in Their Name:** Aligning with a cause close to my mother's heart feels like a shared endeavor. It transforms grief into a positive force, an ongoing conversation with things she enjoyed.
4. **Keep a Journal:** Staring very soon I will pen my thoughts, memories, and even imagined conversations with my mother into a journal that will become a form of an ongoing connection. It will be a shared dialogue that spans the realms of the tangible and the ethereal.
**Finding Comfort in Faith and God: A Source of Strength**
In times of sorrow, turning to faith and God has been a sanctuary. Prayer, meditation, and seeking spiritual guidance provide a reservoir of strength. It's an anchor that grounds me in the belief that my mother's journey continues in a realm beyond our sight. So even If I can't see her, I know she can hear me. So I leave her this message....
Dear Mom in heaven,
As I write these words on what would have been your birthday, the void of your absence is a profound ache. I miss you like crazy, and the echoes of your laughter seem to linger in the corners of my heart. Today, I send my love to the heavens, knowing the breeze will carry it to where you are. Happy Heavenly Birthday, mom. I love you.
Brian
**In Conclusion: An Iconic Ending**
As we navigate the path of grief during special days, remember that healing is a personal journey. Today, I leave you with a thought:
As we draw the curtains on this reflection, may you find moments of solace in the memories that linger, the love that endures, and the belief that our departed loved ones live on in the tapestry of our hearts. This isn't just Brian's LANGuage; it's our collective endeavor to find light in the midst of loss.
With warmth and wisdom,
Author
Brian Lang