We’re sliding into Thanksgiving week now. Some of you will be heading out this weekend to visit family for the holidays. Some will be putting the final touches on the house and double checking the grocery list. And…some of you will be paralyzed with fear and sadness at facing your first (or yet another) holiday without your loved one. It can be wicked hard. I know this.

The good news (and by “good” I mean probably the least sucky part) is, as difficult as it may be to face this first holiday season, you are not likely to remember much of it. In looking back at my first Thanksgiving without Mr. Virgo, I am fairly certain it was spent in Denver with the kids. But, I can’t recollect a single thing about it. I know last year I was already living here in West Virginia and I had traveled to the Eastern Panhandle to celebrate with family.

I do remember a couple of holidays where I had to excuse myself for a bit and go off to another area of the house to have a moment alone. The holidays can be overwhelming. I don’t recommend avoiding them because you’ll just be postponing the inevitable. Adding something special, a new tradition, can be a nice way to honor your loved one.

One thing that really helped me last year was writing down everything I was grateful for. I wrote a list on a page of thick paper and kept it folded in my pocket. Along with some tissues. Whenever I reached for the tissues to dab my eyes, my hand closed around that paper. I mentally checked off the list and it made me feel better.

The firsts are difficult. Take care of yourself and check in with us here if you need some extra props.

❤️

“Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.”

1 Timothy 5:3 NIV