Thankful for You: How to Stay Connected to Your Late Loved One During Thanksgiving
The holidays are seen as a time of year that everyone looks forward to, but that isn’t always the case. For many people, especially those who are grieving, holidays like Thanksgiving can be difficult to face.
How Grief Impacts You at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is the one day each year set aside for us to gather with our closest family members and friends to share how grateful we are for everything in our lives.
But when you’re dealing with loss, you may not feel very thankful.
In fact, your grief can become heightened during the Thanksgiving holiday—whether your Loved One died weeks, months, or years ago. Seeing other families celebrate can make you miss yours more, and participating in longstanding traditions may feel wrong without your Loved One by your side.
While this day will be hard when you think about how you used to share it with your late Loved One, it’s still important to find ways to remember them and be thankful for the time you did spend together. This may not make your grief go away, but it could make the day a bit more bearable.
Creative Ways to Honor Your Late Loved One at Thanksgiving
Finding a way to honor and remember your late Loved One at your Thanksgiving celebration is a great idea for not only helping your own grief, but also for keeping their memory alive for those you are spending the holiday with this year.
The way you choose to honor your Loved One should be a unique reflection of your relationship, but to help you get started, here are a few ideas for how you can memorialize someone you miss on Thanksgiving:
- Bake Their Favorite Dish: Thanksgiving is synonymous with food, and one of the best ways to honor the memory of a Loved One is to cook their favorite dish. Bake a pumpkin pie to share with everyone or cook up their famous green bean casserole for the group. This is sure to fill everyone’s stomachs and hearts.
- Wear Something That Reminds You of Them: Being able to physically hold close something that reminds you of your Loved One can give you immense comfort during the holiday. Consider wearing Jewelry engraved with their fingerprint so that every time you’re missing them, you can feel their fingerprint and know that they’re still near.
- Decorate Their Resting Place: Many families will choose to take a walk to their Loved One’s grave on Thanksgiving to have a few moments of reflection. If you choose to do this, think about a way you could decorate their grave to show your respects. Flowers, letters, and other small environmentally-friendly trinkets are a great idea for symbolizing your continued love. You could also leave your fingerprint on their headstone as a way to remain with your Loved One, even after you return home.
- Pay it Forward in Their Memory: The holidays are the perfect time of year for doing a little good. This year, sign up for a local turkey trot that raises awareness for a charity or volunteer to serve meals at a shelter. Doing so will help you to take your mind off of your grief for a short time while sharing your Loved One’s legacy of goodwill with others.
Thankful for Old Memories and New Traditions
Some people who are grieving feel guilty for partaking in holiday celebrations because they feel as though they’re moving on and forgetting about their late Loved One. While this is a valid emotion, you don’t need to feel bad for trying to find joy during this season. Your Loved One would want you to be happy during this special time of year—and always.
However you choose to spend Thanksgiving this year, may you experience true peace and comfort.
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Thanksgiving Traditions that Honor Someone Who Died
