Happy Holidays?

The holidays are here and for many, they can stir up emotions. For the freshly broken up, the holiday season can hit us sideways—that string from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years to Valentine's Day. It can be hard, real hard. It doesn't matter how much time has passed since our split.

The holiday season can stir regret, loneliness or grief when we find ourselves on our own. There may be people who were a part of our holidays in the past that we haven't seen since the breakup. We may imagine what we might say to them if we did. We might feel angry that they didn't reach out to us—a sign of missing them. Holidays have a way of stirring that shit up.

It's good to have somewhere safe to turn if we feel alone or filled with regret, grief or anger over the breakup. Sharing our feelings and vulnerabilities with trusted family, friends or professionals can help us feel normal, safe, held and loved. It can also help to remember that we are part of a larger human family and beyond that, an Earth family, surrounded by life. We can all take some comfort there.

Here's a tender and empowering way to hold yourself if waves of emotion surface during the holidays—stand before a mirror, embrace yourself and sing: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."

Remember if we change nothing, nothing changes.