How I Survived the Holidays

The holidays are typically some of the hardest times for people who have lost loved ones.  I have to admit, I found myself crying a lot more frequently during the month of November than I had for a few months before that. But, I decided to face the holidays the same way I have faced everything else:  choose the JOY not the sorrow.  Sure, it wasn't always easy, but it was so much better to spend the holidays feeling happy as opposed to wallowing in sorrow.

Thanksgiving:  I actually spent my Thanksgiving day alone, since I didn't fly to Atlanta to see my family until the day after.  This could very easily have been a day spent in my PJs and crying.  But instead:

I ran my first 5K.

I decorated for Christmas.

And then, when I did get to Atlanta with my family, I spent time doing fun things like climbing Stone Mountain.

Christmas...wow, Christmas this year was SO different from Christmas last year.  Rather than choosing to focus on that, I chose instead to:

...spend Christmas Eve morning serving our community with my church.

...take advantage of the nice(ish) weather to take a brief hike at a local park.

Christmas day this year, I didn't focus on the fact that I was waking up by myself.  I focused on the fact that I was waking up, going to the airport, and spending a few days with my parents in Florida!

As for New Year's Eve, I remember being so excited the past 2 years to actually have someone to kiss at midnight!  Though last year, Isaac and I were both exhausted because we'd just returned from Houston, so we didn't do too much celebrating!  This year, I accepted an invitation to spend New Year's Eve with my friend Cindy, and it was a blast!

So, how did I survive the holidays?  Joyfully.  By choosing to say YES to invitations from friends, opportunities to serve others, and doing things a little differently.  They may not have been the holidays I had hoped for at the beginning of the year, but they were definitely HAPPY!