Christmas is one of the most joyous festivals of the year, awaited by everyone, including children and grown-ups. The glittery decoration, gifts, cakes, delicious meals, Christmas music, everything about the festival is just magical. But above all it's about the love, laughter and the precious time spent with the family and loved ones. This year it looks and feels different for everyone. Whether or not you get to celebrate the day with your friends and family this year, you get the greatest gift of all … is being able to zoom call them and see their faces or pick up a phone to hear their voice. Yes, it is different, but the distance is temporary.

When you lose someone special, your world lacks its celebratory qualities. Holidays magnify that loss. The sadness deepens and the loneliness can feel isolating. The need for support may be the greatest during the holidays. Pretending you don’t hurt and/or it isn’t a harder time of the year may not be your truth. But for those living in their grief, you can – and will – get through the holidays. Rather than avoiding the feelings of grief, lean into them. It is not the grief you want to avoid, it is the pain. No one can take that pain away, but grief is not just pain, grief is love. The way I see it is the pain you feel is comparable to the amount of love you have for your loved one. That void will never be filled. But you carry on fueled by the love, traditions and memories you carry with you.