For many of us here in the San Gabriel Valley, this holiday season will involve a lot of firsts. The first time outside our family home, the first time without a beloved church, the first time separated from our neighbors. And on top of all this, it will be close to the first anniversary of the devastating event that forced all of these changes upon us.
Anniversaries of traumas can be hard, and not just on the day-of. Sometimes we start to feel the effects in the weeks or months leading up to the actual anniversary, especially if the weather feels particularly reminiscent of how it was that day.
Even if it’s not consciously on your mind, sometimes your body remembers. You may start to feel tense, anxious, numb, or just sad, and not know why at first. Just know that this is normal, even (and sometimes especially) amidst the pressure to feel happy enough to suit the holiday.
So for many of us, this holiday season might feel a little complicated. Being able to hold onto multiple, sometimes conflicting feelings at once is the name of the game. It’s okay to feel as many or as few emotions as may come. If you can honor your truth in any given moment, and let the moments come and go as they will, you’ll be setting yourself up to have the best experience possible.
MSC wishes you a peaceful and meaningful holiday season.
