Thanksgiving and Christmas can be difficult holidays to survive with or without a spouse or significant other. For those who have recently divorced, the holiday season can be especially difficult if parents do not get to celebrate with their children. Past holiday traditions such as having a dinner at a former spouse’s parent’s home is no longer a possibility.
People often forget to be kind to themselves after a divorce. They believe their married friends who are going to be having their same holiday traditions in years past and that those friends’ lives are perfect. No one has a perfect life and no family is perfect. Just because someone is married does not mean the couple is happy. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors. Making that sort of assumption puts to much unkind strain one’s shoulders.
This is the time of the year to start new traditions. Visit with family and friends especially those you have not seen for a while. Volunteer work is a wonderful way to connect with the community while seeing first hand while your life may not be ideal there are others who have less in their lives. Now is that time to begin that new hobby you always wanted to try.
It is easy to focus on what is going wrong in our lives. Instead remember to be grateful for all that you have during this holiday season.